Question

During constructive interference, two waves moving through the same medium willAnswer

not occupy the same space

amplify each other

move around each other

cancel each other out

Answer 1

Waves can pass through the same point at the same time and after passing through it, each wave will continue as if the other one don't exist. If they pass through a certain point at a certain time, however, they will simply add up. The wave at pint x0 will behave like this: \[W(x0,t)=W1(x0,t)+W2(x0,t)\] When W1,2 are the two wave functions. If they are in phase - which means that at a given point, they are at the same point in their period, be it maximum, minimum, or anything in between, a constructive interference will occur, which means that they are at their maxima and minima at the same time in that specific point, and they add up.