If two water waves are traveling toward each other, one with a +3 m amplitude and one with a +5 m amplitude, what is the resulting amplitude when they meet?

Question

harman.singh · Answer

When two waves have displacement in the same direction, it is known as constructive interference. 


The resultant amplitude of the two waves is the two amplitudes added together.
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Image: BU Physics


As an example, if one wave had an amplitude of +1 m and the other was at +3 m, the resultant amplitude would be..   
+3  +  1  =  4 m.
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