What do light waves out of phase look like?

[Brandon Achugbue 3H]

If light waves out of phase can cause destructive interference and lessen the total amplitude of the waves you started with, does that mean having two light sources of different wavelengths next to each other, or at some strange angle interfering with each other, can possibly give you less total light than if you had each light source lighting up their own room? Are there diminishing returns that we just don't really notice?

[Sammy Liu]

If light waves out of phase can cause destructive interference and lessen the total amplitude of the waves you started with, does that mean having two light sources of different wavelengths next to each other, or at some strange angle interfering with each other, can possibly give you less total light than if you had each light source lighting up their own room? Are there diminishing returns that we just don't really notice?

In order to have destructive or constructive interference, the wavelength of the two interacting light waves much be the same. It just depends on the timing of both of the waves. If they are timed so that the peaks and troughs of both waves line up, then it is constructive, and the light becomes brighter. However, if the peaks of one way match up with the troughs of the other wave, then the two light sources cancel each other out, leading to less total light or no light at all.

This is the same thing that happens with sound waves and noise cancelling headphones. Noise cancelling headphones create a wave that is similar to the noise outside, except it times itself so that the peaks match with the troughs and vice versa, which results in noise cancelling headphones - well - cancelling the noise.

I hope this helps!

[Brandon Achugbue 3H]

In order to have destructive or constructive interference, the wavelength of the two interacting light waves much be the same. It just depends on the timing of both of the waves. If they are timed so that the peaks and troughs of both waves line up, then it is constructive, and the light becomes brighter. However, if the peaks of one way match up with the troughs of the other wave, then the two light sources cancel each other out, leading to less total light or no light at all.

This is the same thing that happens with sound waves and noise cancelling headphones. Noise cancelling headphones create a wave that is similar to the noise outside, except it times itself so that the peaks match with the troughs and vice versa, which results in noise cancelling headphones - well - cancelling the noise.

I hope this helps!

Oh that's super interesting, I've been wondering how noise cancelling headphones worked. Makes a lot of sense, thank you!

[daniellediem1k]

Wow thats super interesting, I didn't know thats how noise canceling headphones worked!