interference fringe

Interference fringes are patterns of light and dark bands created when waves, such as light or sound, overlap and combine. This phenomenon occurs because waves can reinforce each other (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference) depending on their alignment. A classic example is the double-slit experiment, where light passing through two closely spaced slits creates a series of alternating bright and dark lines on a screen. These patterns reveal information about the wave nature of light and help scientists understand various principles in physics, such as wave behavior and quantum mechanics.