Wave Interference
Combine two waves and find where they reinforce each other.
Distances: 19.2 / 19.2 · Δ = 0.0 · Δ / λ = 0.00
Near a whole number, the waves reinforce.
A simplified teaching model. Solid: sum; dashed: wave 1; dotted: wave 2. Water: light = crest, dark = trough, mid-tone = zero displacement. Circles mark sources; the square marks the observation point.
How to play
Tap the surface to measure distances to both sources and their difference in wavelengths. Pale gold guides mark reinforcement. Switch to 1D to compare two waves with their sum. Run automatically or advance one frame at a time.
Learn more
This adds equal-amplitude sine waves from sources in phase. It omits depth, reflections and attenuation. Surface colors show displacement, not light intensity.