Interference experiment

Principle

By dividing up the wave-front of a beam of light at the Fresnel mirror and the Fresnel biprism, interference is produced. The wavelength is determined from the interference patterns.

Benefits

• Observe that light plus light can result in darkness

• Understand how to make use of the interference effect

• A laser as lightsource allows clear observation

• Digital data aquisition

Tasks

Determination of the wavelength of light by interference

1. with Fresnel mirror,
2. with Fresnel biprism.

Learning objectives

• Wavelength
• Phase
• Fresnel biprism
• Fresnel mirror
• Virtual light source