Two-Source Interference

Click anywhere on the overlapping wavefronts from two point sources to find where interference is constructive or destructive.

Two-Source
Interference

๐Ÿ”ต Sโ‚  โ€“  Blue source
๐Ÿ”ด Sโ‚‚  โ€“  Red source

โ€”โ€”Crest (wave peak)
- - -Trough (wave valley)

Each source shows 7 crests and 7 troughs, spaced one wavelength (ฮป) apart.
๐Ÿ“ Click on the diagram

Click anywhere on the wavefront pattern to place an observation point (โ—).

The path lengths from Sโ‚ and Sโ‚‚ will be calculated and the interference type will be determined.
๐Ÿ’ก Interference condition
โ€ข Constructive: |dโ‚ โˆ’ dโ‚‚| = nฮป
โ€ข Destructive: |dโ‚ โˆ’ dโ‚‚| = (n+ยฝ)ฮป

The lower diagram shows sinusoidal waves from Sโ‚ and Sโ‚‚ meeting at P. Both waves start at a crest.