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Two sound waves of exactly the same frequency and amplitude are produced by sources that are in precisely the same position. If the sound waves are out of phase by one-half a wavelength, what will be heard by an observer standing a short distance away?

a) Constructive interference
b) Destructive interference
c) Louder sound
d) Lower pitch

User Cousin
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

An observer will hear silence due to destructive interference as two sound waves of the same frequency and amplitude cancel each other out when they are ½ wavelength out of phase.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two sound waves of exactly the same frequency and amplitude are produced by sources that are in precisely the same position, but are out of phase by one-half a wavelength, the observer standing a short distance away will experience destructive interference. This is because when the two waves are ½ wavelength out of phase, the crest of one wave aligns with the trough of another, leading to cancellation of the waves. this results in a total destructive interference and a resulting amplitude of zero, which implies that no sound will be heard by the observer.

User Khaled Ramadan
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