What is the resultant amplitude of two coherent waves of amplitude \( a \) with a phase difference of \( 5\pi \)?
**Phase difference** corresponding to path difference Δ, φ =2π Δ/λ, for Δ=5λ/8 φ=5π/4, for Δ=9λ/4 φ=9π/2, for Δ=λ path difference φ=2π constructive, but for destructive condition path difference λ can be destructive if one reflection introduces π phase shift, resultant amplitude zero when φ=(2n+1)π. Resultant amplitude A = 2a cos(Φ/2) . For Φ = 5π , A = 2a cos((5π/2)) = 2a × 0 = 0 . Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sinC = 1/n, λ' = λ/n and A = 2a cos(φ/2), calculation gives 0, illustrating interference, diffraction and polarization principles.
Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Wave Optics > Superposition, Resultant Amplitude and Intensity