Coherent and Incoherent Interference

Coherent interference occurs when waves, such as light or sound, have a constant phase relationship, meaning their peaks and troughs align consistently. This alignment can cause waves to reinforce each other (constructive interference) or cancel out (destructive interference), creating clear patterns like bright and dark fringes. Incoherent interference happens when waves lack a fixed phase relationship; their peaks and troughs don’t align consistently, resulting in a mixed, less defined pattern with no stable interference effects. Think of coherent waves as choreographed dancers moving in sync, while incoherent waves are like random, uncoordinated movements.