1) Destructive interference
The condition for constructive interference to occur is:
(1)
where
is the path difference, with
is the distance of the point from the first source
is the distance of the point from the second source
m is an integer number
is the wavelength
In this problem, we have
![d_1 = 78.0 m\\d_2 = 143 m\\\lambda=26.0 m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=d_1%20%3D%2078.0%20m%5C%5Cd_2%20%3D%20143%20m%5C%5C%5Clambda%3D26.0%20m)
So let's use eq.(1) to see if the resulting m is an integer
![\delta =|78.0 m-143 m|=65 m\\m=\frac{\delta }{\lambda}=\frac{65 m}{26.0 m}=2.5](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cdelta%20%3D%7C78.0%20m-143%20m%7C%3D65%20m%5C%5Cm%3D%5Cfrac%7B%5Cdelta%20%7D%7B%5Clambda%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B65%20m%7D%7B26.0%20m%7D%3D2.5)
It is not an integer so constructive interference does not occur.
Let's now analyze the condition for destructive interference:
(2)
If we apply the same procedure to eq.(2), we find
![m=\frac{\delta}{\lambda}-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{65.0 m}{26.0 m}-0.5=2](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=m%3D%5Cfrac%7B%5Cdelta%7D%7B%5Clambda%7D-%5Cfrac%7B1%7D%7B2%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B65.0%20m%7D%7B26.0%20m%7D-0.5%3D2)
which is an integer: so, this point is a point of destructive interference.
2) Constructive interference
In this case we have
![d_1 = 91.0 m\\d_2 =221.0 m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=d_1%20%3D%2091.0%20m%5C%5Cd_2%20%3D221.0%20m)
So the path difference is
![\delta =|91.0 m-221.0 m|=130.0 m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cdelta%20%3D%7C91.0%20m-221.0%20m%7C%3D130.0%20m)
Using the condition for constructive interference:
![m=\frac{\delta }{\lambda}=\frac{130.0 m}{26.0 m}=5](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=m%3D%5Cfrac%7B%5Cdelta%20%7D%7B%5Clambda%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B130.0%20m%7D%7B26.0%20m%7D%3D5)
Which is an integer, so this is a point of constructive interference.
3) Destructive interference
In this case we have
![d_1 = 44.0 m\\d_2 =135.0 m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=d_1%20%3D%2044.0%20m%5C%5Cd_2%20%3D135.0%20m)
So the path difference is
![\delta =|44.0 m-135.0 m|=91.0 m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cdelta%20%3D%7C44.0%20m-135.0%20m%7C%3D91.0%20m)
Using the condition for constructive interference:
![m=\frac{\delta }{\lambda}=\frac{91.0 m}{26.0 m}=3.5](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=m%3D%5Cfrac%7B%5Cdelta%20%7D%7B%5Clambda%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B91.0%20m%7D%7B26.0%20m%7D%3D3.5)
This is not an integer, so this is not a point of constructive interference.
So let's use now the condition for destructive interference:
![m=\frac{\delta}{\lambda}-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{91.0 m}{26.0 m}-0.5=3](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=m%3D%5Cfrac%7B%5Cdelta%7D%7B%5Clambda%7D-%5Cfrac%7B1%7D%7B2%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B91.0%20m%7D%7B26.0%20m%7D-0.5%3D3)
which is an integer: so, this point is a point of destructive interference.