Physics

Coherent and Incoherent Addition of Waves

तरंगों का सुसंगत और असुसंगत योग

In Class 12 Physics, under Chapter 10: Wave Optics, students learn how the principle of superposition combines two or more waves. They distinguish coherent waves, which maintain a constant phase difference and can produce stable interference, from incoherent waves, whose phase relation varies randomly. The topic develops expressions for resultant amplitude and intensity, explains constructive and destructive interference, and shows why incoherent intensities add rather than fixed amplitudes. It also connects phase difference, path difference, and observable light intensity.