WAVES

INTERFERENCE
OF WAVES

Principle of Superposition
When two waves overlap,
the resultant displacement
is equal
to the sum of the displacements of
the individual wave

B4 superposition

After superposition

Constructive
interference

2a

2a

B4 superposition

After superposition

Destructive
interference

Interference of water
waves

Interference pattern formed by two

sets of continuous COHERENT water
waves.
COHERENT --- waves that have a
constant phase difference
Or
Same phase and same frequency

x1

x2

antinode

node
S1
COHEREN
T
SOURCES
S2

antinode

node
Y1 Y2
antinode
The points of constructive interferences are known as ANTINODES
The points of destructive interferences are known as NODES

Distance between two

consecutive nodes or
antinodes

antinode

node

S1
x

antinode

S2
Distance
between
two
coherent
sources

node

antinode
Distance from the sources and
the position where the value of
x is measured

Relationship between
wave length, and a, x
D
and
= ax / D
X = distance between two consecutive
node/antinodes line
a = distance between the two coherent
sources
D =distance btwn the two coherent sources
to the point of measurement of x.

= wavelenghth

Interference of light ???

Interference pattern ???

Bright and dark fringes ????
Monochromatic light source
Youngs Double slit experiment

Young double-slit
experiment
Double - slit

screen
Interference
pattern

Monochromatic
light source
- Light with one

Alternate dark
and bright
fringes

Relationship between wave

length, and a, x and D
Double - slit

screen
x

x
D

= ax / D

Interference of sound waves

L

speaker
x

S
L x

Audio
signal
generator

L
S
D

= ax / D