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Fionn Munnelly
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I have encountered the following definition of interference:
Interference is a wave phenomenon in which two or more waves from coherent sources meet and superpose to form a resultant wave such that the amplitude of the resultant wave at any point is the vector sum of the amplitudes of the constituent waves at that point.
If constructive interference occurs, then the amplitude of the resultant wave is greater than the amplitude of anyone of the constituent waves.
If destructive interference occurs, then the amplitude of the resultant wave is less than the amplitude of anyone of the constituent waves.
If the amplitude of the resultant wave is greater than the amplitude of one constituent wave but less than the amplitude of another constituent wave, is the interference constructive or destructive?
In addition, why must the sources of the waves be coherent? Is this only so that any interference pattern produced is stable and unchanging with time? Is the superposition of waves from non-coherent sources to form a resultant wave not still, technically, interference?
Interference is a wave phenomenon in which two or more waves from coherent sources meet and superpose to form a resultant wave such that the amplitude of the resultant wave at any point is the vector sum of the amplitudes of the constituent waves at that point.
If constructive interference occurs, then the amplitude of the resultant wave is greater than the amplitude of anyone of the constituent waves.
If destructive interference occurs, then the amplitude of the resultant wave is less than the amplitude of anyone of the constituent waves.
If the amplitude of the resultant wave is greater than the amplitude of one constituent wave but less than the amplitude of another constituent wave, is the interference constructive or destructive?
In addition, why must the sources of the waves be coherent? Is this only so that any interference pattern produced is stable and unchanging with time? Is the superposition of waves from non-coherent sources to form a resultant wave not still, technically, interference?