Interference
Light, Sound and Waves

Using wave simulations

Teaching Guidance for 14-16 PRACTICAL PHYISCS

There are many excellent applets available online that show wave behaviour as if observing a ripple tank or oscilloscope screen.

These cannot substitute for experience of the phenomena themselves but provide a powerful way of helping students to visualize. They provide a valuable complement to experiments by removing extraneous effects.

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Curated Collection

Diffraction of light

These experiments enable students to understand and use the diffraction grating, an...

For 14-16 12 Resources

Curated Collection

Mechanical waves and superposition

This sequence of experiments allows students to see what happens when any number of...

For 14-16 14 Resources

Other resources onInterference
Interference
Quantum and Nuclear Supporting Physics Teaching

A common pattern across many different phenomena

This episode starts by thinking about what happens when two trains of waves meet one another.

Teaching Guidance 14-16

Interference
Quantum and Nuclear Supporting Physics Teaching

Effects when vibrations meet

What happens here affects what happens over there: that is the essence of radiating. An influence travels from source to...

Physics Narrative 14-16

Interference
Light, Sound and Waves PRACTICAL PHYISCS

Interference with two sources, using vibrators

Class Practical: This demonstration of interference can be spectacular. Intermediate or advanced level students certainly find...

Practical Activity 14-16

Misconceptions
RESEARCH REVIEW Quantum and Nuclear

Students’ interpretations of interference patterns for low intensity light and electron beams often use classical pictures and trajectory-based reasoning

  • Number of Resources3
  • Number of References1
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources0
RESEARCH REVIEW Light, Sound and Waves

Many students think that two wave pulses travelling in opposite directions will permanently superimpose as opposed to traveling through each other

  • Number of Resources3
  • Number of References1
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources0
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