Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An interference pattern refers to the pattern of light or wave interference that occurs when two or more waves overlap. It is characterized by alternating bright and dark regions where constructive and destructive interference take place.
Diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around obstacles. It can also contribute to the formation of interference patterns.
Constructive Interference: Constructive interference occurs when two waves combine to create a larger amplitude, resulting in a region of increased intensity in an interference pattern.
Destructive Interference: Destructive interference happens when two waves combine to cancel each other out, resulting in a region of decreased intensity in an interference pattern.