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Question: Write four differences between interference and diffraction....

Write four differences between interference and diffraction.

Explanation

Solution

Hint: Interference is a property originated by waves from two different coherent sources. While the diffraction is a phenomenon produced by the secondary wavelets that originate from the same wave. Definitions may sound alike but they are different in nature completely.

Step by step solution:
Interference may be defined as the waves emerging from two different sources producing different wavefronts. but the diffraction can be termed as a secondary wave that emerges from the different parts of the same wave . In case of interference we need two sources but in case of diversion need only one secondary wavelet performed and in case of interference waves coming from the two different sources are overlapped.

(i) In the case of interference, the intensity of all points uses a similar intensity or energy but in the case of diffraction, there is a variance of intensity as the position changes. There is no particulate pattern of intensity in case of diffraction as there is in case of interference.

(ii) In case of interference, the intensity at the minimum is zero or dark and in case of diffraction the city varies with the position and does not become absolutely zero.

(iii) In interference, the fringes are formed whereas we do not see any particular pattern of the fringes in case of diffraction and also the fringes are of equal width in case of the interference and case of the diffraction no particular pattern can be noticed.

(iv) For the inference to happen we need not have any slit or obstacle whereas in case of diffraction we need a slit or obstacle.

(v) In case of interference, the contrast between Maxima and minima is good whereas it is poor in case of diffraction.

Note: Difference between diffraction and interference is that diffraction of light occurs due to the superposition of the secondary wavelets of the wave generated from the same source and here there is no point of another source, but in case of the interference, we see that two waves from the different sources are overlapped to interfere.