Question

Two beams of coherent light start out at the same point in phase and travel different paths to arrive at point P. If the maximum destructive interference is to occur at point P, the two beams must travel paths that differ by:_____
a. a whole number of half-wavelengths.
b. a whole number of wavelengths.
c. an odd number of half-wavelengths.

Answer 1

Answer:

(B) a whole number of wavelengths.

Explanation:

Two beams of coherent light start out at the same point in phase and travel different paths to arrive at point P. If the maximum destructive interference is to occur at point P, the two beams must travel paths that differ by a whole number of wavelengths.

When the resultant effect of the combination of two identical waves result in their annihilation or complete cancellation of the effect of each other, destructive interference takes place. Hence to have two wave sources producing waves that have the same frequency wavelength and amplitude and which are always in phase with each other or have a constant phase difference are said to be Coherent source