Question

A group of students must design an experiment to determine how the amplitude of a resultant wave pulse changes when two individual wave pulses combine so that destructive interference is observed. Both wave pulses travel toward each other. How should the students produce the individual wave pulses so that total destructive interference occurs.

A group of students must design an experiment to determine how the amplitude of a resultant wave pulse changes when two individual wave pulses combine so that destructive interference is observed. Both wave pulses travel toward each other. How should the students produce the individual wave pulses so that total destructive interference occurs? Each wave pulse should have the opposite vertical orientation with respect to the equilibrium position of string and have the same amplitude. Each wave pulse should have the opposite vertical orientation with respect to the equilibrium position of string, have the same amplitude, have the same width, and have the same shape. Each wave pulse should have the same vertical orientation with respect to the equilibrium position of string and have the same amplitude. Each wave pulse should have the same vertical orientation with respect to the equilibrium position of string. have the same amplitude, have the same width and have the same shape.

Answer 1

• Destructive interference occurs when two waves of same amplitude and same frequency ( can be considered width ) are out of phase ( having phase difference of 180° ) . So , out of phase condition implies that the two waves should have opposite vertical orientation.
  
• “Each wave pulse should have the opposite vertical orientation with respect to the equilibrium position of string , have the same amplitude , have the same width and have the same shape.”
  
• 2nd option is correct .