BRAINCAKEYoung's Double Slit
There were two competing theories about light: the wave theory and the particle theory.
Newton considered light was composed of tiny particles (corpuscular theory) and Huygens explained reflection and refraction through the wave theory.
Newton's theory remained unchallenged for about 100 years until Thomas Young demonstrated interference by the wave theory.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Phase difference
- The difference, measured in radians or degrees, between the phases of two oscillating points or waves.
- Coherent
- Waves are coherent if they have the same frequency and a constant phase difference.
- Diffraction
- The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an obstacle.
- Interference
- The formation of points of cancellation and reinforcement where two coherent waves overlap and superpose.
- Refraction
- The change of direction of a wave as it crosses a boundary between two media in which it travels at different speeds.