Superposition: Adding two waves together -- amplitude help

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two traveling waves on a taut string, with the objective of determining the maximum positive displacement when both waves are present simultaneously. The discussion centers around the concept of superposition in wave mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the addition of the two waves, with one suggesting a mathematical approach involving sine and cosine functions. Others question the assumptions about the direction of the waves and the conditions under which their peaks might coincide.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various interpretations being explored. Some participants are considering the implications of wave direction and amplitude, while others are questioning the necessity of complex terms in the solution.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the amplitudes of the waves and how they affect the superposition. The original poster expresses confusion about adding the waves due to differing amplitudes.

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Homework Statement


"
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
 

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