What is wave interference?

Wave interference is the phenomenon where two or more waves superpose to result in a new wave pattern.

In more detail, wave interference is a fundamental concept in physics that describes how waves interact with each other. This interaction can occur with any type of wave, including light, sound, and water waves. When two or more waves meet, they can either add together to create a larger wave, or cancel each other out to create a smaller wave or even no wave at all. This is determined by the phase of the waves: if the peaks of the waves align, they will add together (constructive interference), and if a peak aligns with a trough, they will cancel out (destructive interference).

The principle of superposition is key to understanding wave interference. It states that the displacement of a medium caused by two or more waves is the algebraic sum of the displacements of the individual waves. If two identical waves are in phase (i.e., their peaks and troughs align), they will interfere constructively, resulting in a wave with twice the amplitude. Conversely, if they are exactly out of phase (i.e., the peak of one aligns with the trough of the other), they will interfere destructively, cancelling each other out and resulting in no wave.

Wave interference is not just a theoretical concept; it has practical applications in many areas of physics and engineering. For example, it is the principle behind the operation of many types of optical and electronic devices, such as lasers and radio antennas. It is also used in the measurement of small distances and thicknesses in interferometry, and in the creation of diffraction patterns in X-ray crystallography.

In summary, wave interference is a fundamental concept in wave physics, describing how waves can combine to create new wave patterns. It is governed by the principle of superposition and can result in either constructive or destructive interference, depending on the phase relationship of the interfering waves.