Question

If we have two coherent sources S₁ and S₂ vibrating in phase, then for an arbitrary point P destructive interference is observed whenever the path difference is ______.

Options

• `("n" + 1/2)lambda`, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,...

• `("n" + 1/3)lambda`, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,...

• `"n"lambda`, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,...

• `("2n" + 1/2)lambda`, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,...

Answer 1

If we have two coherent sources S₁ and S₂ vibrating in phase, then for an arbitrary point P destructive interference is observed whenever the path difference is `underline(("n" + 1/2)lambda)`, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,....

Explanation:

If the point P is such that the path difference,

S₂ P ~ S₁P = `("n" + 1/2)lambda`, (where n = 0, 1, 2, 3,...), we will have destructive interference and the resultant intensity will be zero.