Final answer:
The statement is false; waves can affect each other's amplitude through interference whether or not 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 can be considered false. Waves can interfere with each other in different ways, such as constructive or destructive interference, which may affect the resultant wave's amplitude. This interaction occurs when waves overlap at the same point in space, regardless of whether their peaks are precisely aligned. Constructive interference happens when the peaks of two waves align, and their amplitudes add together, resulting in a higher amplitude. Destructive interference can occur when the peak of one wave aligns with the trough of another, effectively reducing the overall amplitude. Thus, the precise alignment is not a requirement for one wave's amplitude to be affected by another.