Final answer:
When two pulses moving in opposite directions on a string reach the same point at the same instant, interference occurs and the waves add up to create a wave with twice the amplitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wave interference occurs when two or more waves overlap in a given region of space. Constructive interference amplifies the waves, resulting in a larger amplitude. Destructive interference diminishes the waves, causing cancellation. Interference phenomena are common in physics and are crucial in understanding wave behavior, observed in various contexts like optics and acoustics.
Interference occurs when two waves overlap. In the case of two pulses moving in opposite directions on a string, interference will occur when the pulses reach a point X at the same instant. At this point, the waves will add up and create a wave with twice the amplitude as the individual pulses. However, the interference will only be temporary, and the pulses will continue on unaffected by the encounter.