Sesse said:I am trying to understand why it is not possible to produce an EM wave through interference that is completely different from the source waves. For example why can't 2 or more EM waves outside the visible spectrum add up to produce light? I haven't had any physics since high school and I don't know where to look to find an answer for this. Any explanation is very much appreciated.
An EM wave is produced through the interference of two or more coherent waves. This means that the waves have the same frequency, amplitude, and phase. When these waves overlap, they create areas of constructive and destructive interference, resulting in the formation of an EM wave.
Constructive interference occurs when two waves of the same frequency, amplitude, and phase overlap and combine to create a wave with a higher amplitude. Destructive interference, on the other hand, occurs when the two waves cancel each other out, resulting in a wave with a lower amplitude.
No, only electromagnetic waves can be produced through interference. This is because EM waves are transverse waves, meaning that they propagate perpendicular to the direction of the oscillation, which allows them to interfere with each other.
The distance between the interfering waves, also known as the path difference, determines the phase difference between the waves. This, in turn, affects the type of interference that occurs and the resulting amplitude of the EM wave. The greater the path difference, the greater the phase difference and the more pronounced the interference.
No, there are other ways to produce an EM wave, such as accelerating charges or using a device like an antenna. However, interference is one of the most common and efficient ways to produce an EM wave, as it allows for precise control of the frequency and amplitude of the resulting wave.