Light from two coherent sources of the same amplitude A and wavelength λ illuminates the screen. The intensity of the central maximum is I0. If the sources were incoherent, the intensity at the same point will be

Question

Light from two coherent sources of the same amplitude A and wavelength λ illuminates the screen. The intensity of the central maximum is I0. If the sources were incoherent, the intensity at the same point will be (A) 4I0 (B) 2I0 (C) I0 (D) (I0/2)

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

The rays of light from two coherent sources superimpose each other on the screen forming alternate maxima (with maximum intensity I0 ) and minima (with intensity zero). If two non-coherent sources superimpose, there will be no maxima and minima, instead the intensity will be (I0/2) throughout.

Q. Light from two coherent sources of the same amplitude $A$ and wavelength $λ$ illuminates the screen. The intensity of the central maximum is $I_{0}$ . If the sources were incoherent, the intensity at the same point will be

$4 I_{0}$

$2 I_{0}$

$I_{0}$

$\frac{I _{0}}{2}$

Q. Light from two coherent sources of the same amplitude A and wavelength λ illuminates the screen. The intensity of the central maximum is I0​. If the sources were incoherent, the intensity at the same point will be

4I0​

2I0​

I0​

2I0​​

Q. Light from two coherent sources of the same amplitude $A$ and wavelength $λ$ illuminates the screen. The intensity of the central maximum is $I_{0}$ . If the sources were incoherent, the intensity at the same point will be

$4 I_{0}$

$2 I_{0}$

$I_{0}$

$\frac{I _{0}}{2}$