PHASE DIFFERENCE

Phase difference is the difference between the phases of two waves. As in case of given two waves

y₁ = a cos (w t - k x)

y₂ = a cos (w t - k x + 45⁰)

the given phase difference is 45⁰.

The difference between the path traversed by the two waves between the two points is called path difference.

The relationship between the path difference and phse difference is

Phase difference = (2 pi / wavelength) x path difference