Final answer:
A standing wave results from the sum of two transverse waves given by: Constructive interference.
The correct answer is a
Step-by-step explanation:
Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet and their amplitudes add up, resulting in a larger wave. In the case of standing waves, the two transverse waves are traveling in opposite directions and have the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude. When these waves meet, their crests and troughs align, reinforcing each other and creating regions of maximum displacement, known as antinodes, and regions of no displacement, known as nodes.
To better understand this concept, imagine two waves on a string traveling towards each other. When they meet, their crests and troughs align, resulting in a larger wave at the point of intersection. This creates a stable pattern with stationary points of maximum displacement (antinodes) and points of no displacement (nodes) in between. This pattern is what we call a standing wave.
Destructive interference, on the other hand, occurs when two waves meet and their amplitudes cancel out, resulting in a smaller or no wave at the point of intersection. Resonance is the phenomenon where an object or system vibrates at its natural frequency due to the influence of an external force. Diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening.
The correct answer is a) Constructive interference.