Interference

See Also: Radio and Television Interference Noise

In physics, the effect obtained when two systems of Waves reinforce, neutralize, or in other ways interfere with each other. Interference is observed in waves both in a material medium (such as Sound) and in Electromagnetic Radiation. Constructive interference occurs when two waves in the same phase combine. The waves reinforce each other, and the amplitude of the resulting wave is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the interfering waves. When the phases of the two waves are shifted over 180 Degrees, i.e., the maximum positive amplitude of one wave coincides with the maximum negative amplitude of the other wave, destructive interference occurs, which results in the canceling of the waves when they have the same amplitude. See Diffraction.