interference

(noun)

An effect caused by the superposition of two systems of waves, such as a distortion on a broadcast signal due to atmospheric or other effects. In physics, interference is a phenomenon in which two waves superimpose to form a resultant wave of greater or lower amplitude.

Related Terms

Examples of interference in the following topics:

  • Interference and Diffraction

    • Interference effects can be observed with all types of waves, including light, radio, acoustic, and surface water waves.
    • In chemistry, the applications of interference to light are the most relevant to the study of matter.
    • Constructive interference occurs when the phase difference between the waves is a multiple of 2π, whereas destructive interference occurs when the difference is π, 3π, 5π, etc.
    • These two examples represent constructive (left) and destructive interference (right) in wave phenomena.
    • Recognize the difference between constructive and destructive interference, and between interference and diffraction

  • Properties of Waves and Light

    • In the early 19th century, English scientist Thomas Young carried out the famous double-slit experiment (also known as Young's experiment), which demonstrated that a beam of light, when split into two beams and then recombined, will show interference effects that can only be explained by assuming that light is a wavelike disturbance.
    • When Thomas Young first demonstrated this phenomenon, it indicated that light consists of waves, as the distribution of brightness can be explained by the alternately additive and subtractive interference of wavefronts.
    • If light were purely a particle, it would not exhibit the interference pattern shown here.

  • The de Broglie Wavelength

    • Experiments with Fresnel diffraction and specular reflection of neutral atoms confirm the application of the de Broglie hypothesis to atoms, i.e. the existence of atomic waves that undergo diffraction, interference, and allow quantum reflection by the tails of the attractive potential.
    • I include a summary of the hydrogen atom's electronic structure and explain how an electron can interfere with itself in an orbit just like it can in a double-slit experiment.

  • Determining Atomic Structures by X-Ray Crystallography

    • The x-ray beams are diffracted in a characteristic pattern that gives rise to reflections, dark spots on the detector which represent places where constructive interference of the diffracted light has occurred.

  • Freezing Point Depression

    • If salt is added to the water, the Na+ and Cl- ions attract to the water molecules and interfere with the formation of the large network solid known as ice.

  • Structural Determination

    • It will not interfere with the reaction being studied.

  • Isotopes of Hydrogen

    • As NMR analyzes the nuclear spins of hydrogen atoms, the different nuclear spin property of deuterium is not 'seen' by the NMR instrument, making deuterated solvents highly desirable due to the lack of solvent-signal interference.

  • The Chemical Shift

    • Also, it should give a single sharp nmr signal that does not interfere with the resonances normally observed for organic compounds.

  • Reactions of Amino Acids

    • Carboxylic acids are all converted to carboxylate anions at such a high pH, and do not interfere with amine acylation reactions.

  • Elimination Reactions of Alcohols

    • The predominance of the non-Zaitsev product (less substituted double bond) is presumed due to steric hindrance of the methylene group hydrogens, which interferes with the approach of base at that site.