Re: Parallel Universe

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

On the website, it says that two holes produce five "shadows" whereas
four holes produce three "shadows".  The first question I have is: does
that actually happen?  The second is: can the effect be explained simply
by wave interference?

Can someone reproduce the "five shadows" to "three shadows" effect and
describe it for me so I know what it is we are supposed to be explaining
(and so must rely on the parallel universe explanation)?

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators 
> [mailto:PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu] On Behalf Of Fran Poodry
> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 10:37 PM
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Parallel Universe
>
>
> Hello,
> I hope someone can help me.  A student sent me this web site 
> <http://www.allsci.com/parallel.html>
> and suggested that we do the activity in class (it is very 
> simple and involves poking holes in a card and shining a 
> laser beam at the holes, then observing the interference 
> pattern).  However, the web site claims that the observed 
> pattern is evidence for parallel universes.  I would like to 
> be able to explain convincingly to my students that it is no 
> such thing.  Some of my students have had calculus and some 
> have not, and all are high school seniors with extreme 
> senioritis (only 2 more weeks of class for them).  Any 
> takers? Thanks, Fran Poodry West Chester East High School 
> West Chester, PA