What happens to a wave when it encounters interference?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of two waves traveling in opposite directions and what occurs when they encounter interference. Participants explore concepts related to wave superposition, the conditions under which waves meet, and the resulting waveform after a specified time interval. The scope includes conceptual understanding and technical explanation of wave interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on the expected waveform after two waves meet after 30 seconds, expressing difficulty in conceptual understanding.
  • Another participant questions whether the waves are in the same medium and if any measurements accompany the visual representation.
  • A participant assumes the waves meet in phase, noting that one wave travels twice as fast as the other, leading to a head-to-head meeting.
  • There is a discussion about the concept of wave superposition and its implications for the resulting waveform.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how long the superposition lasts and the specifics of the resulting waveform, acknowledging that peaks add to increase amplitude.
  • A later reply clarifies that the interpretation of "meeting" can vary, affecting whether the waves are drawn head-to-head or superimposed.
  • Another participant notes that if the waves are in a string, they propagate unchanged, suggesting that the total wave can be obtained by sliding the waves past each other and adding them together at each moment in time.
  • There is a consideration of constructive interference based on the frequency and wavelength of the waves involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying interpretations of how the waves interact, particularly regarding the conditions of their meeting and the resulting waveform. There is no consensus on the specifics of the interference or the nature of the superposition.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not established specific definitions for terms like "meeting" or "superposition," which may affect their interpretations. The discussion lacks detailed mathematical descriptions of the wave properties involved.

Monster007
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If I have two waves traveling in opposite directions as shown in the attached image... After 30 seconds what will the waveform look like?



Im having real trouble conceptually understanding this! Please help... Many thanks in advance
 

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Are there any (length) units or any other explanation to go with the picture? Are these supposed to represent two waves in the same string?
 
No no measurements they just sit under each other... they are assumed to be in same medium though. It says they meet after 30 seconds. what is the expected waveform
 
So I'm assuming they meet after 30 seconds in phase? Because one travels twice as quick as the other which means they will meet end to end as drawn?
 
Are you familiar with "wave superposition"?
 
Yes, but I'm wondering what actually happens, as in... I'm assuming they will superimpose but I am not certain for how long and what the resulting waveform will actually be... I know where peaks add I'll get twice the amplitude, but where will they add etc
 
Well, it depends what you mean by the waves "meet" after 30 seconds. Do they just meet (head-to-head) or are they exactly on top of each other? In the first case you just draw them head-to-head. In the second you superpose them.

The waves are propagating, so they will move past one another… hence they will superpose at every different position, but only for an instant at each position.

If you do a quick Google search for "wave superposition" it turns up a lot of good diagrams and videos of two waves meeting in just the way you are describing.
 
well I am assuming that after any time the bottom wave will have gone through exactly 2 times as many wavelengths as the top wave as its frequency is twice as much (velocity is, and wavelength is same) but this should result in the waves meeting head to head... so will they constructively interfere?
 
If it's a wave in a string, the waves will propagate completely unchanged. So you literally slide the two waves past each other and add them together to get the total wave at each moment in time.
 

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