Destructive Interference:

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of destructive interference and how it can occur between two loudspeakers. The person asking for help is trying to determine the lowest frequency at which destructive interference will occur at a specific point between the two speakers. After some calculations, they realize their mistake and are grateful for the help.
  • #1
vroman
9
0
Destructive Interference: Please Help!

Two loudspeakers are 2.36m apart. A person stands 2.8m from one speaker and 3.4m from the other. What is the lowest frequency at which destructive interference will occur at this point?

My answer is wrong, but this is what I did:
3.4m-2.8m=0.6m, so the person is .6m farther from one speaker than the other.
In order to sense destructive Interference, the person, must be one-half wavelength closer to or farther from one speaker than the other, the wavelength must be twice the distance difference. Therefore, Wavelength=0.12m
Using the equation Wavelength =velocity/frequency, I solved for frequency. (velocity of sound is 343 m/s).
My answer: 2858.33Hz

PLease help! Thanks!
 
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  • #2
What's 2 times 0.6? :wink:
 
  • #3
Haha, thanks! Those careless mistakes make such a difference!
 

What is destructive interference?

Destructive interference is a phenomenon that occurs when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude meet and cancel each other out, resulting in a decrease in the overall amplitude of the resulting wave.

How is destructive interference different from constructive interference?

Destructive interference is when two waves cancel each other out, while constructive interference is when two waves combine to create a larger wave. In destructive interference, the resulting wave has a smaller amplitude than the original waves, while in constructive interference, the resulting wave has a larger amplitude.

What causes destructive interference to occur?

Destructive interference occurs when two waves are out of phase, meaning they have opposite displacement at the point where they meet. This can happen when the waves have traveled different distances or have been reflected off of different surfaces.

What are some examples of destructive interference in everyday life?

One example of destructive interference is when noise-canceling headphones use an inverted sound wave to cancel out external noise. Another example is when waves in a body of water meet and cancel each other out, resulting in a calmer surface.

Can destructive interference be beneficial?

Yes, destructive interference can be beneficial in some cases. For example, it is used in noise-canceling technology, as mentioned before. It can also be used in imaging techniques such as MRI and ultrasound, where destructive interference helps to eliminate unwanted noise and improve image quality.

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