Final answer:
The statement is false because waves can affect each other's amplitude through interference, which occurs when they overlap, regardless of whether they are precisely aligned.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the amplitude of one wave is affected by the amplitude of another wave only when they are precisely aligned is false. Waves can influence each other's amplitudes through a process called interference, which occurs when two or more waves overlap. There are two types of interference: constructive interference and destructive interference. Constructive interference happens when the crests of two waves align, resulting in a wave with a larger amplitude. Conversely, destructive interference occurs when the crest of one wave aligns with the trough of another, which can result in a wave of reduced amplitude or even in complete cancellation if the waves have equal amplitudes but are out of phase. Therefore, it is not necessary for waves to be precisely aligned for their amplitudes to affect each other; it is the relative phase and alignment of their crests and troughs that matters.