Final answer:
The statement is false; wave amplitudes affect each other through interference whenever they overlap, regardless of precise alignment.
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. Wave interactions such as interference occur when two or more waves occupy the same space at the same time. The principle behind this phenomenon is known as superposition. Superposition implies that when waves overlap, their amplitudes combine algebraically to create a resultant wave. This means that waves do not need to be precisely aligned to affect each other's amplitude; their effects are most evident in areas where they overlap significantly, but any degree of overlap can result in amplitude changes. Two common types of interference are constructive interference, where the wave amplitudes reinforce each other, and destructive interference, where they counteract each other.