Question

Two ropes are joined smoothly to form a single rope, which is attached to a wall. If the ends of the two ropes are moved up and down in phase, but one rope is half a wavelength longer than the other to the point where they join, will the interference of the two waves when they join be constructive or destructive?

Answer 1

Let's first understand the principle of superposition states that when two or more waves combine, the resulting disturbance or displacement is equal to the sum of the individual displacements.

Thus, Wave length in the one rope is half wave length longer than the other to the point where they join. So, at this point waves are out of phase. Hence the interference of the waves when they join is the DESTRUCTIVE