Answer to Question #164092 in Optics for Hadden

Question

  (a.) Differentiate between interference and diffraction of light.

Answer 1

Diffraction of light is the phenomenon of spreding of the light wave when it passes through the slit or comes across the obstacle. The interference of the light waves is the superposition of two or more light waves emitted by two coherent sources travelling in the same medium. Therefore, the key difference between the interference and difraction of light is that the interference happens when waves meet each other while the diffraction takes place when the light wave passes across an obstacle or opening.