Question

Two waves are shown below: The top wave is a transverse wave that starts high before going down to a trough and repeating two times. The bottom wave is a traverse wave that also starts high before going down to a trough and repeating two times with the same wavelength as the top wave.

What type of interaction would you expect if the following waves were passing the same point at the same time?

A. Constructive interference
B. Destructive interference
C. Constructive diffraction
D. Destructive diffraction

Answer 1

When two transverse waves with the same wavelength and phase meet at a point, they undergo constructive interference, resulting in a combined wave with a greater amplitude. The correct answer is A. Constructive interference.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two waves pass the same point at the same time, the type of interference that occurs depends on how the waves meet at that point. If the waves have points that are in phase, which means their crests and troughs align, then constructive interference occurs.

In the scenario described, since both transverse waves start high and have the same wavelength, and assuming they maintain the same phase relationship throughout, they would reinforce each other when they meet. This causes the amplitude of the resultant wave to be greater than the amplitude of the individual waves.

However, if the waves have points that are out of phase, with a crest meeting a trough, destructive interference would occur, where the waves cancel each other out. Since the question suggests that the waves are in phase.

Answer 2

Two transverse waves in phase produce constructive interference when they intersect at the same point, resulting in a wave with double the amplitude of each individual wave.

The option (A) is correct .

When two transverse waves with the same wavelength interact at a point in such a way that their crests and troughs align precisely, constructive interference occurs. This results in a new wave with twice the amplitude of the individual waves, but with the same wavelength.

Since the question indicates that both waves start high and go through the same cycle, they are in phase and thus, when they intersect, they will produce constructive interference. Therefore, the expected interaction type when they pass the same point at the same time is constructive interference (A).