Question

If two coherent waves, one with intensity 8.0 units and the other with intensity 4.0 units, undergo destructive interference, what is the resulting intensity?

Answer 1

When two coherent waves undergo destructive interference, the resulting intensity can be calculated as


`I_(new) = I_(1) + I_(2) - 2\sqrt{I_(1)I_(2)`

where I₁ and I₂ are the given intensities of the waves. Thus, for these two particular coherent waves, we have


`I_(new) = 8.0 + 4.0 - 2√((0.8)(0.4))`

`I_(new) = 0.69`

Thus, the resulting intensity has a value of 0.69 units.

Answer: 0.69 units