Two sources of light are coherent if they havea)different frequency an...
Two wave sources are perfectly coherent if their frequency and waveform are identical and their phase difference is constant. So, option c is correct.
Two sources of light are coherent if they havea)different frequency an...
Coherence of Light Sources:
Coherence refers to the property of light waves in which they maintain a constant phase relationship over time. When two sources of light are coherent, the phase difference between them remains constant, resulting in interference patterns and other optical phenomena. In order for two sources of light to be coherent, they must meet certain criteria.
Criteria for Coherence:
In order for two sources of light to be coherent, they must have the following characteristics:
1. Same Frequency: The two sources of light must have the same frequency. Frequency is a measure of how many complete cycles of the wave occur in a given time period. When two sources have the same frequency, their waveforms have the same shape and repeat at the same rate.
2. Constant Phase Relationship: The phase difference between the two sources of light must remain constant. Phase refers to the position of a point on a waveform relative to a reference point at a given time. When the phase difference between two sources is constant, the waveforms are in sync and maintain a consistent relationship.
Explanation of the Correct Answer:
The correct answer is option 'c': "same frequency and with a constant phase relationship." This means that for two sources of light to be coherent, they must have the same frequency and maintain a constant phase relationship over time.
If the sources of light have different frequencies, option 'a' would be correct. In this case, the waves have different shapes and repeat at different rates, making it impossible for them to maintain a constant phase relationship. As a result, they would not be coherent.
Option 'b' is also incorrect because it suggests that the two sources of light have different frequencies. Even though they have a constant phase relationship, the requirement of having the same frequency is not fulfilled.
Option 'd' is incorrect because it suggests that the two sources of light have the same frequency but change phase randomly. In this case, the phase difference between the two sources is not constant, which means they are not coherent.
Therefore, option 'c' is the correct answer because it includes both the requirement of having the same frequency and a constant phase relationship, which are necessary conditions for coherence between two sources of light.