Interference is the phenomenon where two or more waves meet and combine to form a new wave with a different amplitude, while diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles or openings in a medium. Interference is caused by the superposition of waves, while diffraction is caused by the spreading of waves as they pass through a narrow opening or around an obstacle.
Both interference and diffraction are examples of wave phenomena caused by the interaction of waves with each other or with obstacles in their path. They both demonstrate the wave-like nature of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.
The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves meet, their amplitudes add algebraically to form a new wave. In the case of interference, this results in the formation of a new wave with a different amplitude and pattern, while in diffraction, it causes the spreading or bending of the wave.
Interference and diffraction can cause light waves to interfere with each other, forming bright and dark fringes, and can also cause light to bend or spread as it passes through narrow openings or around obstacles. These phenomena can be observed in everyday life, such as in the colors of a soap bubble or the patterns formed by light passing through a small hole.
Interference and diffraction have many practical applications in fields such as optics, acoustics, and radar technology. They are used in devices such as diffraction gratings, which are used to separate light into its component colors, and in the design of antennas and other waveguides for communications and radar systems.