Exploring Interference of Waves

The first experiment involves a version of the two-slit experiment of Young. We will use something that we know is a wave. It’s a wave drawn on a piece of plastic or paper. To do the experiment, print the graphic in the accompanying window. Cut out two strips so that each has a wave on it. Tape a straight pin or nail to one end of each wave and place the pins in the dots on the page.

(NEED PHOTO)

Along the solid line mark with an X locations where the addition of the two waves is a maximum (constructive interference). Place zeros where the two waves cancel each other (destructive interference).

Try different amplitudes or wavelengths for this experiment and compare your results.

How does the distance between zeros depend on wavelength and amplitude?