Question

Select the statement that correctly completes the description of phase difference.

Phase difference describes:
O the difference in the phase angle between any two waves at any given position along the waves.
O the shift between the positions of corresponding crests of two waves of the same frequency.
O the difference in the frequencies of two waves at a given time.
O the displacement of a wave particle from its undisturbed position at the origin.

Answer 1

Phase difference denotes the difference in phase angle between two waves at a given point, occurring when waves are separated by a whole number of multiples of wavelengths.

Step-by-step explanation:

Phase difference describes the difference in the phase angle between any two waves at any given position along the waves. When the waves have the same frequency and the difference in their path lengths is an integer multiple of the wavelength, the waves are said to be in phase. This means these points are separated by a whole number multiple of whole wave cycles or wavelengths. For example, sound waves can illustrate a phase shift when they have different path lengths. It is also important to understand that the wavelength is defined as the distance between any two adjacent points that are in phase.

Answer 2

The difference in the phase angle between any two waves at any given position along the waves.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phase difference between two waves is defined as the difference between its two phase angles, measured at the same time, but not always at the same point in space. In other words, the phase difference is when the waves have the same frequency, but reach their zero value at a different time.