Which one of the following superpositions will result in beats?
A)the superposition of waves that travel with different speeds
B)the superposition of identical waves that travel in the same direction
C)the superposition of identical waves that travel in opposite directions
D)the superposition of waves that are identical except for slightly different amplitudes
E)the superposition of waves that are identical except for slightly different frequencies

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Beats occur when two waves of slightly different frequencies are superposed. The resulting wave will have a varying amplitude (i.e. amplitude modulation) at a frequency equal to the difference between the two original frequencies. Therefore, choice E is the best one.

Which One of the Following Superpositions Will Result in Beats