Q.Give a mathematical analysis of the interference of sound and explain constructive and destructive interference.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →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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