Final answer:
The rope's shape when two wave pulses overlap is determined by the principle of superposition. They combine algebraically at the point of overlap, creating an increased displacement or canceling each other out if of equal magnitude and opposite directions. Without diagrams, we can't choose from the given options A, B, C, or D.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two wave pulses traveling towards each other along a rope meet, the resulting shape of the rope at the point of overlap can be explained by the principle of superposition. This principle states that when two or more waves meet at a point, the resultant displacement at that point is equal to the algebraic sum of the individual displacements of each wave. If both pulses are of equal magnitude but opposite in direction (one upward and one downward), when they overlap, the rope will have an increased displacement equal to the combined amplitude of both pulses. The direction of the displacement will be determined by the direction of the greater pulse; if they are equal, it will be the net zero (flat), since they cancel each other out.
Since the question does not provide diagrams, it's impossible to select the correct diagram (A, B, C, or D) that best represents the shape of the rope when the pulses overlap. However, the description above outlines how the overlap works. After the pulses overlap, they will continue to travel in their original directions, unaffected by the interaction. The particles in the rope where the pulses overlap will move according to the net displacement caused by both pulses, which can be illustrated by the ribbon tied to the rope as a representative point mass in the medium.