Question

16.)A wave of amplitude 0.50 m interferes with a second wave of amplitude 0.38 m traveling in the same direction.

(a) What is the largest resultant amplitude that can occur, and under what conditions will this maximum arise?
m

The two waves interfere constructively.

OR

The two waves interfere destructively.    

(b) What is the smallest resultant amplitude that can occur, and under what conditions will this minimum arise?
m

The two waves interfere destructively.

OR

The two waves interfere constructively.   

Please show step by Step

Answer 1

16. Largest amplitude = 0.50 + 0.50m = 1.0m

Condition:The two waves interfere constructively

17. Smallest amplitude = 0.50m + 0.50 = 0m

Condition:The two waves interfere destructively

For reasons read below explanation:

Constructive interference: is a type of interference that occurs at any location

along the medium where the two interfering waves have a displacement in the

same direction. In this case, both waves have an upward displacement; consequently,

the medium has an upward displacement that is greater than the displacement of the

two interfering pulses. Constructive interference is observed at any location where the

two interfering waves are displaced upward. But it is also observed when both interfering

waves are displaced downward. This is shown in the diagram below for two downward displaced pulses.

Destructive interference: is a type of interference that occurs at any location along the medium where

the two interfering waves have a displacement in the opposite direction. For instance, when a sine pulse

with a maximum displacement of +1 unit meets a sine pulse with a maximum displacement of -1 unit,

destructive interference occurs. When  the interfering pulses have the same maximum displacement but i

n opposite directions. The result is that the two pulses completely destroy each other when they are completely

overlapped. At the instant of complete overlap, there is no resulting displacement of the particles of the medium.