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

Polarisation explored

There are a number of standard laboratory demonstrations of polarisation, from those performed with 3 cm waves, through to...

Classroom Activity 14-16

Interference
Light, Sound and Waves PRACTICAL PHYISCS

Watching one ripple crossing another

Demonstration: A close look at interference between two, random wave pulses in a ripple tank.

Practical Activity 14-16

Interference
Quantum and Nuclear Supporting Physics Teaching

Photons and interference

There is a lurking difficulty here, that cuts to the core of what physicists know about radiating.

Physics Narrative 14-16

Misconceptions
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
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
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