Displacement, Coherence, Path difference, Superposition

Displacement

A vector quantity that refers to how far out of place an object is; it is the overall change in position.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as displacement.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that has only magnitude and no direction, such as speed.

Coherence

The consistent phase relationship between waves.

Path Difference

The difference in the distance travelled by two waves from their sources to a particular point.

Constructive Interference

Occurs when waves meet in phase, resulting in an increase in amplitude.

Destructive Interference

Occurs when waves meet out of phase, resulting in a decrease in amplitude.

Phase Difference

The difference in phase between two waves having the same frequency and reference point.

Principle of Superposition

States that when two or more waves meet, the resultant wave is the algebraic sum of the displacements of the individual waves.

Laser Light

A good example of a coherent light source.

Wavelength

The distance over which the wave's shape repeats, often represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ).

Standing Waves

Waves that remain in a constant position, formed by the principle of superposition.

Beats

Variations in amplitude that occur when two waves of slightly different frequencies interfere.