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Home Concept Builders Vibrations and Waves Wave Interference Help Help 2

Wave Interference - Questions 2 Help

When two or more waves meet up while traveling through the same medium, they undergo interference. The interference that occurs can be classified as either constructive or destructive interference.

There are two similar versions of this question. Here is one of the versions:

Version 1:
Wave 1 (in Red) and Wave 2 (in Blue) are moving through the same medium and undergoing interference. They have different wavelengths, frequencies, and amplitudes. For the five labeled points, categorize each as being locations where either constructive or descructive interference occurs.
 
Constructive interference occurs at locations: A B C D E (Circle)
Denstructive interference occurs at locations: A B C D E (Circle)

You have to make two decisions to be successful with this question. You have to make a Wavelength decision and you have to make an Amplitude decision.

Wavelength Decision
You can use the background grid to determine the wavelength of the wave. You can count the squares. It can be thought of as the distance between one crest and the next adjacent crest. Once you determine the wavelength in the given diagram, look for an answer option that shows twice that value for wavelength. You can do the square counting again to be sure. But in the end, you are looking for a longer (more stretched out) wave.

Amplitude Decision
You can use the background grid to determine the amplitude of the wave. You can count the squares. It can be thought of as the vertical distance from the resting position (the mid-line on the diagram) to the crest. Once you determine the amplitude in the given diagram, look for an answer option that shows twice that value for amplitude. You can count squares again to be sure. But in the end, you are looking for a taller wave.

These two decisions should allow you to narrow the answer options down to one.

Try this link to The Physics Classroom Tutorial for more help with understanding wave interference:

Interference of Waves

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