Two coherent waves of amplitude a and b of intensities I1 and I2 interfere with phase difference ϕ. Find the amplitude and intensity of resultant wave. Deduce the result if both the waves have same amplitude and intensity. Also plot the graph showing the variation of intensity of resultant wave with phase difference.
Let the two coherent waves be,
Using principle of superposition, the resultant wave is,
...(3)
where,
r is the amplitude of resultant wave.
Amplitude of the resultant wave is given by,
...(4)
If both the waves have same amplitude, then
The intensity of a wave is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude.
Therefore intensities of waves are
where,
p is constant of proportionality.
Now from equation (4),
If then
The variation of intensity of the resultant wave with phase difference is as shown in the figure below.