The phase difference for the two waves shown in the figure is
A) 2π.
B) π.
C) 3π/2.
D) π/2.
E) It is not possible to answer this question without additional information.

Question

The phase difference for the two waves shown in the figure is
A) 2π. 
B) π. 
C) 3π/2. 
D) π/2. 
E) It is not possible to answer this question without additional information.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phase difference between the two waves is the difference in their starting phase angles. From the figure, we can see that the blue wave starts at a maximum while the red wave starts at zero. A maximum represents a phase angle of π/2 while zero represents a phase angle of 0. Therefore, the phase difference between the two waves is π/2.

The Phase Difference for the Two Waves Shown in the Figure