PhET Simulation: Wave Interference

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published by the PhET

In this Java simulation, students interactively explore properties of waves as they view simulations of a dripping faucet, an audio speaker, and a laser. By observing wave sources and mediums for water, sound, and light, students can compare the behavior of different types of waves. Options include a stopwatch and ruler to measure the waves directly, along with movable detectors and customizable slit widths and spacings to allow students to watch the interference patterns over time. All three options, water, sound, and light, allow users to select between one and two sources, and up to two slits.

This simulation is part of a large and growing collection. It has been designed using principles from physics education research and refined based on student interviews.

SEE RELATED ITEMS ON THIS PAGE for links to lessons, demonstrations, and clicker questions adapted by the PhET team for use with this applet.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Practices - Technology = Multimedia Optics - Interference = Interference From Two Sources Oscillations & Waves - Wave Motion = Interference and Diffraction = Interference and Diffraction of Sound Quantum Physics - Probability, Waves, and Interference	- High School - Lower Undergraduate - Informal Education	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 4.0/5 Rated 4.0 stars by 1 person Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Format:: application/javascript
Mirror:: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/wa…
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2005 PHET and University of Colorado
Additional information is available.
Keywords:: double slit, interference pattern, light, single slit, sound, water
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created October 22, 2006 by Gifford Weber
Record Updated:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: August 11, 2006
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: How Waves Move and Interact: Reflection, Refraction, Interference

Students interactively explore properties of waves as they view simulations of a dripping faucet, an audio speaker, and a laser. By observing wave sources and mediums for water, sound, and light, students can compare the behavior of different types of waves. Choose Light as a medium and add a second source or a pair of slits to create an interference pattern.

Link to Unit:

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=4545">PhET. PhET Simulation: Wave Interference. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006.</a>

AIP Format

, Version 1.01 (PhET, Boulder, 2005), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference).

AJP/PRST-PER

PhET Simulation: Wave Interference, Version 1.01 (PhET, Boulder, 2005), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference>.

APA Format

PhET Simulation: Wave Interference. (2006, August 11). Retrieved March 17, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference

Chicago Format

PhET. PhET Simulation: Wave Interference. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference (accessed 17 March 2025).

MLA Format

PhET Simulation: Wave Interference. Vers. 1.01. Boulder: PhET, 2005. 11 Aug. 2006. 17 Mar. 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {PhET Simulation: Wave Interference}, Publisher = {PhET}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {17 March 2025}, Month = {August 11, 2006}, Year = {2005} }

Refer Export Format

%T PhET Simulation: Wave Interference %D August 11, 2006 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference %O 1.01 %O application/javascript

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D August 11, 2006 %T PhET Simulation: Wave Interference %I PhET %V 2025 %N 17 March 2025 %7 1.01 %8 August 11, 2006 %9 application/javascript %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/wave-interference

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

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PhET Simulation: Wave Interference:

Is Supplemented By PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Wave Unit

A complete unit of instruction on the topic of Waves, created by a high school teacher. It was designed to be used with interactive simulations developed by PhET.

relation by Caroline Hall

Is Supplemented By PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Wave Demonstrations: Water, Sound, Light

A set of inquiry-based classroom demonstrations for high school physics, developed for use with the PhET simulation "Wave Interference".

relation by Caroline Hall

Is a Student Extra Of Physics Classroom: Interference of Waves<

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