http://www.ck12.orgCHAPTER
15 Diffraction and Interference of Light
Chapter Outline
15.1 Double Slit Interference
15.2 SINGLESLITINTERFERENCE
15.3 DIFFRACTIONGRATINGS
15.4 REFERENCES
Light interference occurs when two light waves interact with each other. Light interference often creates beautiful
patterns, such as those on the surface of the bubbles shown above. When light hits a soap bubble, one light ray is
reflected by the outer layer of soap, while another light ray will travel through that layer and get reflected by the
inner layer of soap. Since these waves have traveled slightly different differences, the waves are no longer perfectly
synchronized; this interference results in iridescent patterns.