Science Common Sense

1469 - What is an interference or diffraction phenomenon of light apart from reflection and refraction?

Imagine you're at a lake on a quiet day. You throw two stones into the water, creating ripples that move outward in circles. When these ripples meet, they can either make a bigger ripple or cancel each other out.

This is similar to what happens with light waves in a phenomenon called 'interference'. When two or more light waves meet, they can combine to make a brighter or darker light.

Another phenomenon is 'diffraction'. This is when light waves bend around a corner or through a narrow opening, like when you see light passing through a small gap in a window blind.

Think of it like water flowing around a rock or through a small hole - the water bends and changes direction. Light waves can do the same thing, creating a bending or spreading effect that can create interesting patterns and colors.

These effects can often be seen in things like oil slicks, soap bubbles, or in the colors of a butterfly's wings.