Wave Interference
Two coherent sources in 2D produce an interference pattern of constructive and destructive regions. Adjust separation and wavelength to see how fringe spacing changes.
Who it's for: Physical optics and waves; Young’s experiment and path-difference reasoning.
Key terms
- interference
- path difference
- constructive
- destructive
- coherence
How it works
Two coherent point sources in a square ripple tank (top view). The field is the sum of two outgoing circular waves; interference creates quasi-hyperbolic nodal lines and curved maxima. Toggle decay to mimic cylindrical spreading.
Key equations
Frequently asked questions
- What causes bright and dark regions?
- Where crests from both sources meet in phase, amplitude adds (constructive interference); where they arrive out of phase, cancellation reduces amplitude (destructive interference).
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