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Q.Give a mathematical analysis of the interference of sound and explain constructive and destructive interference.

Rajasthan RbseRajasthan Board Senior Secondary Part-I Examination 2024Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Superposing y1 = a sin ωt and y2 = a sin(ωt+φ) gives a resultant of amplitude R = 2a cos(φ/2); R is maximum when φ = 2nπ (constructive) and zero when φ = (2n+1)π (destructive).

Consider two coherent sound waves of the same amplitude a and angular frequency ω, arriving at a point with a constant phase difference φ:

y1 = a sin ωt

y2 = a sin(ωt + φ)

By the principle of superposition, the resultant displacement is y = y1 + y2. Using the sum-to-product identity:

y = a sin ωt + a sin(ωt + φ) = 2a cos(φ/2) sin(ωt + φ/2)

So the resultant is itself a simple harmonic wave of the same frequency ω, but with a NEW amplitude:

R = 2a cos(φ/2)

Constructive interference: R is maximum (= 2a, the two amplitudes simply add) when cos(φ/2) = ±1, i.e., when φ = 0, 2π, 4π, ... = 2nπ (n = 0, 1, 2, ...). In terms of path difference Δx (using φ = 2πΔx/λ), this means Δx = nλ — waves arrive exactly in step, crest meeting crest.

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