Superposition: Adding two waves together -- amplitude help

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To find the maximum positive displacement of two traveling waves on a string, one must consider the principle of superposition, which states that the total displacement is the sum of individual displacements. The challenge arises when the waves have different amplitudes, making direct addition complex. It is crucial to determine if the waves are traveling in the same or opposite directions, as this affects their interaction. The maximum displacement occurs when the peaks of both waves coincide, allowing the amplitudes to be summed. Understanding the sine function's maximum value is essential in calculating the overall amplitude in this scenario.
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Homework Statement


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Two traveling waves are generated on the same taut string. Individually, the two traveling waves can be described by the following two equations:
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If both of the above traveling waves exist on the string at the same time, what is the maximum positive displacement that a point on the string can ever have?
3. At first I thought this problem was pretty straighfoward with just adding the two waves together. However my plan was to add them such that the outcome would be something like 2Asin(a+b)/2 * cos(a-b)/2
however the waves in the problem have diffrent amplitudes and I am not sure had to add them now. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
 
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Do you need to find a complicated answer using your k and phi terms?
Is it not reasonable to assume that regardless of the terms, there is a max that the sine function will take?
 
Are the two waves traveling in the same, or in opposite directions?

Can a pair of peaks - one from each wave - ever coincide?
 
add the two amplitudes to find the max superposition
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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