Question

FIGURE EX17.1 is a snapshot graph at t = 0 s of two waves approaching each other at 1.0 m/s. Draw six snapshot graphs, stacked vertically, showing the string at 1 s intervals from t = 1 s to t = 6 s

Short answer

Two similar waves with equal and opposite amplitude are moving towards each other with speed of 1m/s.

Step-by-step solution

Given Info

Two similar waves with equal and opposite amplitude are moving towards each other with speed of 1m/s.

T = 1sec

Up till this point there will be no superposition as waves have just touched each other.

From t = 2 sec to t = 4 sec

Now we know that both waves are completely similar to each other except for their sign (i.e. one wave is in positive y axis and another wave is in negative y axis). So any part of these waves that cross each other will be cancelled out due to superposition principle.

At t = 5 sec

At this point both waves stand at same point and so both of them completely cancels out each other.

At t = 6sec.

Now both waves have crossed each other and they are moving apart so therefore they will start to emerge from corresponding sides of x axis as they move apart.