When a narrow laser beam passes through a fine wire mesh before arriving at the wall, it forms a complicated pattern of bright spots on the wall. This pattern of spots would not occur if you sent a flashlight beam through the mesh because light from the flashlight
A) is neither coherent nor monochromatic.
B) cannot be sent through a single opening of the mesh.
C) is horizontally polarized, while laser light is vertically polarized.
D) is vertically polarized, while laser light is horizontally polarized.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pattern observed when a laser beam passes through a fine wire mesh is due to the coherent and monochromatic nature of laser light, which allows for interference patterns to form. A flashlight beam, being neither coherent nor monochromatic, would not produce such a pattern. Polarization (options C and D) is not relevant to the formation of the interference pattern in this context.

When a Narrow Laser Beam Passes Through a Fine Wire