Wave Interference
|
Download
Embed
|
Original Sim and Translations |
Topics
- Interference
- Double Slit
- Diffraction
- Waves
Description
Make waves with a dripping faucet, audio speaker, or laser! Add a second source to create an interference pattern. Put up a barrier to explore single-slit diffraction and double-slit interference. Experiment with diffraction through elliptical, rectangular, or irregular apertures.
Sample Learning Goals
- Make waves with water, sound, and light and see how they are related.
- Design an experiment to measure the speed of the wave.
- Create an interference pattern with two sources, and determine the ways to change the pattern.
- Find points of constructive and destructive interference by eye and by using the detectors.
- Put up a barrier to see how the waves move through one or two slits. What sort of pattern do the slits create? How can you change this pattern?
- For light, predict the locations of the fringes that appear on the screen using d sin(θ) = mλ. Use the tape measure to verify your predictions.
- Explain how the aperture geometry relates to the diffraction pattern.
- Predict how changing the wavelength or aperture size affects the diffraction pattern.
Teacher Tips
 |
Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
| Waves Interference Remote Labs |
|
|
Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Lab |
Earth Science Physics |
| Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) |
|
|
Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
MC | Physics |
| Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) |
|
|
Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
Lab Demo HW |
Physics |
| Invention Lab_Wave Interference |
|
|
Noah Podolefsky | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | Physics |
| Wave Interference (PreAP) |
|
Elyse Zimmer | HS | Lab | Physics | |
| Wave Interference with Water Waves (AP) |
|
Elyse Zimmer | HS | Lab | Physics | |
| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
|
Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Biology Chemistry Physics Earth Science |
|
| Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
|
Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López | HS MS |
Other | Physics Chemistry Biology Earth Science |
|
| PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
|
Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry | |
| In/Post-Class Worksheet, Wave Interference, Sound/Water, PhET | Solmaz Khodaeifaal | HS MS |
Lab HW Guided Demo |
Physics | ||
| Pre/In/Post-Class Worksheet, Wave Interference, PhET | Solmaz Khodaeifaal | MS HS |
Guided Demo Discuss Other Lab Remote HW |
Physics | ||
| Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Biology Physics Chemistry |
||
| Wave Interference- Waves (Sound and Light) | Lonny Villalobos, M.Ed. | MS | Guided Other |
Earth Science Physics |
||
| Waves on a String and Wave Interference Virtual Labs | Jennifer Hamilton | MS HS |
HW Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
| Serie de Labs virtuales de Ondas |
|
|
Trish Loeblein (traducción de Diana López) | UG-Intro HS |
Discuss Lab HW Remote Guided |
Physics |
| PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) |
|
Diana López | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry Physics Mathematics |
Browse legacy activities.
or Run 
HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.
iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
iPad compatible sims
Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.
Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims
Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.
Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.12+, Safari 12+, latest version of Chrome.
Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
