A simple experimental setup using a smartphone and a pair of speakers is presented to perform an accurate experiment on interference of two point sources. The proposed experiment allows simple but interesting measurements to be done to introduce students to interference and diffraction phenomena. As such, the experiment effectively introduces the classical Young’s double-slit interference experiment, and can be used as a replacement for the classical ripple tank.
References
1.
Thomas
Young
, “Bakerian Lecture: Experiments and calculations relative to physical optics
,” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London
94
, 1
–16
(1804
).2.
In fact, the meaning of the adjective “wrong” should be discussed at length. Here, we assume that it means false under the circumstances in which Young’s experiment was done.
3.
Alain
Aspect
, “From Huygens waves to Einstein’s photons: Weird light
,” C. R. Physique
18
, 498
–503
(2017
).4.
Thomas
Young
, “Bakerian Lecture: On the theory of light and colours
,” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London
92
, 12
–48
(1801
).5.
Thomas
Young
, “Outlines of experiments and inquiries respecting sound and light
,” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London
90
, 106
–150
(1800
).6.
For a very general introduction, see, e.g.,
J.
Kuhn
, “Analyzing acoustic phenomena with a smartphone microphone
,” Phys. Teach.
51
, 118
(Feb.
2013
).7.
An example of activity that can be done using smartphones is, e.g.,
J.
Kuhn
, “Analyzing the acoustic beat with mobile devices
,” Phys. Teach.
52
, 248
(April
2014
).8.
S.
Staacks
, S.
Hutz
, H.
Heinke
, and C.
Stampfer
, “Advanced tools for smartphone-based experiments: phyphox
,” Phys. Educ.
53
(4
), 045009
(2018
).9.
R.
Feynman
, B.
Leighton
, and M.
Sands
, The Feynman Lectures on Physics
(Addison-Wesley
, Reading, MA
, 1963
).© 2021 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by American Association of Physics Teachers.
2021
Author(s)
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