Two sinusoidal waves travel in the same direction and have the same frequency.Their amplitudes are y₁_m and y₂_m.The smallest possible amplitude of the resultant wave is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amplitude of the resultant wave is given by the formula sqrt((a1+a2)^2+(b1+b2)^2), where a1 and a2 are the amplitudes of the two waves, and b1 and b2 are the amplitudes of their out-of-phase components, i.e., the components that are 90 degrees out of phase. When the two waves are in-phase, their out-of-phase components cancel out, and the amplitude of the resultant wave is simply the sum of their amplitudes. When the two waves are 180 degrees out of phase, their out-of-phase components add up, and the amplitude of the resultant wave is minimized. Therefore, the smallest possible amplitude of the resultant wave occurs when the two waves are 180 degrees out of phase, and the amplitude is given by |a1-a2|.

Two Sinusoidal Waves Travel in the Same Direction and Have