Incomplete destructive interference occurs when two waves with the same wavelength and amplitude meet and partially cancel each other out, resulting in a reduction in the overall amplitude of the resulting wave.
In incomplete destructive interference, the resulting wave still has some amplitude, while in complete destructive interference, the resulting wave has an amplitude of zero due to complete cancellation of the two waves.
The magnitude of incomplete destructive interference is affected by the amplitude and wavelength of the waves, as well as the phase difference between them. A larger phase difference leads to a larger reduction in amplitude.
Constructive interference occurs when two waves with the same wavelength and amplitude meet and reinforce each other, resulting in a wave with a greater overall amplitude.
The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves meet, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves. This applies to both incomplete destructive and constructive interference, where the resulting wave is a combination of the two interfering waves.