Explain how Maxima and Minima occur in Young's double slit experiment

When coherent, in-phase light passes through two slits they act as seperate sources, these waves diffract and overlap, causing regions of constructive and destructive interference. When they collide with a screen maxima are produced when there is a (N) wavelength path difference, leading to constructive interference. Minima are produced when there is a (N+1/2) wavelenght path difference, so the waves have destructive interference

CD
Answered by Charlie D. Physics tutor

12919 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do we know the energy of a photon (light particle) is quantised?


Imagine a ball rolls off a set of stairs with horizontal velocity, u; the stairs have a height, h and length of l. Find a formula for which step the ball will hit, n.


How can an object be accelerating when it's velocity is constant, and how does centripetal acceleration work.


Which are the types of carrier movements and how are they activated


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning