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Computer Program Detail Page

Item Picture
Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program
written by Wolfgang Christian, Mario Belloni, and Anne Cox
The Optics Interference program simulates a ripple tank by showing the intensity of waves produced by one or more point sources. Adding multiple point sources creates easily observable interference patterns showing constructive and destructive interference. Users can add point sources, move them around, and change their wavelength.

The Optics Interference program uses the algorithm described in Section 9.8 of "An Introduction to Computer Simulatuon Methods" by H. Gould, J. Tobochnik, and W. Christian.

Optics Inteference is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the optics_interference.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java.
2 supplemental documents are available
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Optics
- Interference
= Interference From Two Sources
Oscillations & Waves
- Wave Motion
= Interference and Diffraction
- Lower Undergraduate
- Upper Undergraduate
- High School
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- Educators
- application/java
- application/pdf
  • Currently 4.0/5

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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license.
Rights Holder:
2009: Wolfgang Christian. Details available at http://www.opensourcephysics.org/misc/copyright.html.
Type:
Java Archive File
PACSs:
01.50.hv
07.05.Tp
04.20.-q
Keywords:
constructive interference, destructive interference, interference, ripple tank, ripple tank simulation, wave interference
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created November 4, 2009 by Anne Cox
Record Updated:
July 8, 2013 by Bruce Mason
Last Update
when Cataloged:
November 4, 2009
Other Collections:

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
W. Christian, M. Belloni, and A. Cox, Computer Program OPTICS INTERFERENCE: RIPPLE TANK PROGRAM (2009), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397).
AJP/PRST-PER
W. Christian, M. Belloni, and A. Cox, Computer Program OPTICS INTERFERENCE: RIPPLE TANK PROGRAM (2009), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397>.
APA Format
Christian, W., Belloni, M., & Cox, A. (2009). Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program [Computer software]. Retrieved October 4, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397
Chicago Format
Christian, W, M. Belloni, and A. Cox. "Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program." https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397 (accessed 4 October 2024).
MLA Format
Christian, Wolfgang, Mario Belloni, and Anne Cox. Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program. Computer software. 2009. Java 1.5, Java Archive File.4 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Wolfgang Christian and Mario Belloni and Anne Cox", Title = {Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program}, Month = {November}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%A Wolfgang Christian %A Mario Belloni %A Anne Cox %T Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program %D November 4, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397 %O Java Archive File %O application/java %O Java Archive File

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %A Belloni, Mario %A Cox, Anne %D November 4, 2009 %T Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program %8 November 4, 2009 %9 Java Archive File %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9611&DocID=1397


Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

Optics Interference: Ripple Tank Program:

Is a Teaching Guide For Physics Classroom: The Path Difference
Is a Teaching Guide For Physics Classroom: Young's Equation
Is a Teaching Guide For Physics Classroom: Young's Experiment

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