Formula: Destructive Interference Condition Path difference    Integer    Wavelength

Formula: Destructive Interference Condition
Destructive Interference - Superposition of two sine waves

Path difference

Unit
The path difference of two waves, which travel to the observation point (e.g. to the point where a bright interference fringe can be seen). The path difference thus indicates by how many wavelengths a wave leads or lags another wave.

For destructive interference, the path difference takes the following values: \[ \Delta s ~=~ \frac{1}{2} \, \lambda,~ \frac{3}{2} \, \lambda,~ \frac{5}{2} \, \lambda, ~... \]

Integer

Unit
Integer multiple of the wavelength takes the following values in the case of destructive interference: \( m = 1, 2, ... \). This integer indicates the factor by how much one wave precedes the other.

Wavelength

Unit
Wavelength of the two waves under consideration. So the wavelength of the light used.

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