Question

Figure 16-28 shows phasor diagrams for three situations in which two waves travel along the same string. All six waves have the same amplitude. Rank the situations according to the amplitude of the net wave on the string, greatest first.

Short answer

The ranking of the amplitude is$c>a>b$

Step-by-step solution

Given

The amplitude of all six waves is the same.

Determining the concept

Determine the amplitude of the net wave using the phasor diagram

Determining therank of waves according to the amplitude of the net wave

Case a:

Case b:

Case c:

From the phasor diagrams of all three cases, we can rank them as: $c>a>b$

Hence, the ranking of the amplitude is$c>a>b$

Therefore, the amplitude of the net wave can be determined by the phasor diagram.