What is Constructive Interference? Give example/s.

Question

I have a report on Physics base on Constructive Interference. And I need a huge amount of ideas base on this topic. Like: What is constructive Interference? How does it occur? Does it need a medium? And all other stuffs that you can add here especially examples to clearly explain your explanation. More credentials can help me. :)Can you also explain this in Layman's term? If not at least an understandable explanation is good enough. The type of exlplanation that I can easily get since I'm a type of person who doesn't get things that easily. :( Although you might say that I'd search in the google but I'd much prefer asking here in Wyzant. Please help me Wyzanters!

Answer 1

Paige,

 

I think you will want to get out your physics book and read about this, and google and look for the best explanations you can find. Look at several different books if you need to, to find the best explanation for you. And you will want to include mention of Christiaan Huygens. However, I'll give you one real life example. Have you have ever looked at the surface of a lake, or calm waters, and see the ripples from small disturbances, like say a duck moving around? Well, these disturbances are waves on a medium (the water), and there are "highs" and "lows" as the wave travel across the otherwise calme waters. However, if there are two separate sources, lets say two duck, at a distance from each other, then each of their waves will travel across the waters, and in some places, the waves will "add" and in some places they will "subtract" from each other. The first one is "constructive" interference and the second one is "destructive."

 

Happy reading!

 

- Ben