Crest and Trough Interference - Light Wave Explanation

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In summary, when light waves interfere, destructive interference occurs when the troughs of both waves coincide. This means that the waves have minimum energy at troughs and maximum energy at crests. The amplitude of the waves is not the only factor, as the sign of the amplitude (positive or negative) also plays a role. The graph of a wave represents the amplitude of energy, not the displacement of something.
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HUMERA.S
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when light waves interfere, it is said that when the troughs of both the waves (say) coincide, destructive interference takes place. it means that the waves have min. energy at crest and max. at crest. i don't understand how this could be, following that both(crest and trough) have the same amplitude and are at equal displacements of the wave !
would someone please clarify this...
 
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  • #2
HUMERA.S said:
waves have min. energy at crest and max. at crest. i don't ...
you have mistaken here it must be minimum at trough and maximum at crests.
Well, you are right in saying that they have the same amplitude
but what here matters is the sign they have i.e. at troughs the amplitude is in negative direction while in crests its in positive.
And its usually mistaken that the graph representing a way shows displacement of something but its not so , the graph shows the amplitude of energy (for any type of wave) at that point.
 

1. What is crest and trough interference?

Crest and trough interference is a phenomenon that occurs when two or more light waves meet and overlap in the same space. This results in a change in the intensity and direction of the light waves.

2. How does crest and trough interference work?

When two light waves meet, their crests and troughs can either align or cancel each other out. When they align, the waves combine and create a stronger wave with a higher intensity. When they cancel each other out, they create a darker or dimmer area.

3. What causes crest and trough interference?

Crest and trough interference is caused by the superposition of two or more light waves. This means that the waves are overlapping and interacting with each other, resulting in changes to the overall intensity and direction of the light.

4. How does crest and trough interference affect light waves?

Crest and trough interference can result in the creation of bright and dark areas, as well as changes in the overall color of the light. It can also cause diffraction, where the light waves spread out and create a pattern.

5. What are some real-life examples of crest and trough interference?

Crest and trough interference can be seen in various everyday situations, such as when light reflects off of a soap bubble, creating colorful patterns, or when light passes through a thin film of oil on water, resulting in a rainbow effect. It is also used in technologies like anti-reflective coatings on glasses and interference filters on camera lenses.

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