P5 - Nature of waves Flashcards
1
Q
What happens when two sets of waves overlap?
A
- output is a maximum when the waves meet in phase
(constructive) - output is a minimum when the waves meet out of phase
(destructive)
2
Q
How is a stable interference pattern produced?
A
To produce a stable interference pattern the two sources need to be coherent, having the same frequency and wavelength.
3
Q
What is destructive interference used for?
A
Destructive interference is used for noise reduction systems.
4
Q
When does constructive waves occur?
A
Constructive interference occurs when the path difference from the two sources is an even number of half wavelengths.
5
Q
When does destructive interference occur?
A
Destructive interference occurs when the path difference from the two sources is an odd number of half wavelengths.
