Interference

When two waves meet and overlap they interfere with each other. The resulting
amplitude will depend on the amplitudes of both the waves at that point.

If the crest of one wave meets the crest of the other the resulting intensity will be
large. This is known as constructive interference.

If the crest of one wave meets the trough of the other (and the waves are of equal
amplitude) the resulting intensity will be zero. This is known as destructive
interference.
The figures show waves coming from two slits and
interfering with each other.
 Interference between two waves

The path The path difference

difference is zero. is half a wavelength.

maximum minimum

In the figures you can see that at the different points on the screen the waves
from S1 have travelled a different distance from those from S2.

The difference in the distance travelled

For destructive interference the path
(the path difference) must be a full
difference must be an odd number of
number of wavelengths for constructive
half wavelengths.
interference.
Only waves exhibit constructive and destructive interference in everyday
experience. Sound waves and water waves show interference effects. We now
also know that all electromagnetic waves demonstrate interference effects.
This was shown in the first ‘double slit’ experiment conducted by Thomas
Young in 1801. Young's experiment showed interference of light. As only
waves demonstrate interference, this confirmed that light was a wave motion
not a stream of particles.