Q.

Three waves from three coherent sources meet at some point. The resultant amplitude of each is A0. Intensity corresponding to A0 is I0. Phase difference between first wave and second wave is 60°. Path difference between first wave and third wave is λ3. The first wave lags behind in phase angle from second and third wave. Find resultant intensity at this point?

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a

I=4I0 

b

I=98I0 

c

I=6.9I0

d

I=0.5I0 

answer is A.

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Detailed Solution

Here the sources are three. So, we don't have any direct formula for find the resultant intensity. First we will find the resultant amplitude by vector method and then by the relation IA2, we can also find the resultant intensity.

Further, a path difference of λ3 is equivalent to a phase difference of 120° ϕ or ϕ=2πλ·x

Hence, the phase difference of first and second is 60° and between first and third is 120°. So, the vector diagram for amplitude is as shown below.

Three waves form three coherent sources meet at some point. Resultant  amplitude of each is {A}_{0}. Intensity corresponding to {A}_{0} is {I}_{0}.  Phase difference between first wave and second wave is 60°.

Now, resultant of first and third acting at 120° is also A0 (as A=2A0cosϕ2 and ϕ=120°) and since the first and third are equal, so this resultant A0 passes through the bisector line of these two or in the direction of second amplitude vector. Therefore, the resultant amplitude is 

                                                        A=A0+A0 A=2A0

and the resultant intensity is 

                                                        I=4I0   as IA2

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