Final answer:
The statement about the log amplifier's function in calculating attenuation is false. Log amplifiers compress the dynamic range of input signals, not measure attenuation. Additionally, the statement that wave amplitudes only add up when propagating in the same line is also false; waves can interfere and their amplitudes can add up in various ways, including when they intersect from different directions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a log amplifier calculates the amount of attenuation that occurs during data acquisition is false. A log amplifier is an electronic circuit designed primarily to produce an output that is proportional to the logarithm of its input signal. This functionality is essential in various applications where it's necessary to compress a large dynamic range of input signals into a smaller range that can be more readily processed or viewed, particularly in analog-to-digital conversion. Attenuation during data acquisition refers to the loss of signal strength and is not something a log amplifier is specifically designed to calculate.
Regarding the statement that the amplitudes of waves add up only if they are propagating in the same line, this statement is false. Wave amplitudes can indeed add up as a result of interference, regardless of whether they are propagating in the same line or not. This phenomenon can occur in several ways, such as when waves intersect at a point from different directions (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference).