Practice question

**Coherence** requires constant phase difference, two independent sources not coherent because phase random, prevents interference pattern, laser coherent, visibility of fringes determined by coherence, intensity and phase difference, coherent sources produce stable interference, incoherent intensity adds I = I₁+I₂ no interference, interference pattern distinguishes from diffraction. Intensity I = 4I₀ cos²(Φ/2) , where Φ = (2π/λ) Δ . For Δ = λ/2 , Φ = (2π/λ) · (λ/2) = π , so I = 4I₀ cos²(π/2) = 4I₀ × 0 = 0 . Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v,