Interference and Superposition of Waves 

of A is ahead by than that of B and the distance

3
AP is greater than BP by 50 cm. Then the resultant
1. There is a destructive interference between the
amplitude at the point P will be, if the wavelength
two waves of wavelength  coming from two
is 1 meter
different paths at a point. To get maximum sound
or constructive interference at that point, the path (a) 2a (b) a 3
of one wave is to be increased by (c) a 2 (d) a
  8. Coherent sources are characterized by the same
(a) (b)
4 2 (a) Phase and phase velocity
3 (b) Wavelength, amplitude and phase velocity
(c) (d) 
4 (c) Wavelength, amplitude and frequency
2. When two sound waves with a phase difference of (d) Wavelength and phase
 / 2 , and each having amplitude A and frequency 9. The minimum intensity of sound is zero at a point
 , are superimposed on each other, then the due to two sources of nearly equal frequencies,
maximum amplitude and frequency of resultant when
wave is
(a) Two sources are vibrating in opposite phase
A  A
(a) : (b) : (b) The amplitude of two sources are equal
2 2 2

(c) At the point of observation, the amplitudes of
(c) 2 A: (d) 2 A : two S.H.M. produced by two sources are
2
equal and both the S.H.M. are along the same
3. If the phase difference between the two wave is 2
straight line
during superposition, then the resultant amplitude
is (d) Both the sources are in the same phase
(a) Maximum (b) Minimum 10. Two sound waves (expressed in CGS units) given
2
(c) Maximum or minimum (d)None of the by y1 = 0 .3 sin (vt − x ) and

above
2
y 2 = 0 .4 sin (vt − x +  ) interfere. The resultant
4. The superposition takes place between two waves 
of frequency f and amplitude a. The total intensity amplitude at a place where phase difference is
is directly proportional to [MP PMT 1986]  / 2 will be
(a) a (b) 2a (a) 0.7 cm (b) 0.1 cm
2
(c) 2a (d) 4a2 1
(c) 0.5 cm (d) 7 cm
5. If two waves of same frequency and same 10
amplitude respectively, on superimposition 11. If two waves having amplitudes 2A and A and
produced a resultant disturbance of the same same frequency and velocity, propagate in the
amplitude, the waves differ in phase by same direction in the same phase, the resulting
[MP PMT 1990; MP PET 2000]
amplitude will be
(a)  (b) 2 / 3
(a) 3A (b) 5A
(c)  / 2 (d) Zero
6. Two sources of sound A and B produces the wave (c) 2 A (d) A
of 350 Hz, they vibrate in the same phase. The 12. The intensity ratio of two waves is 1 : 16. The ratio
particle P is vibrating under the influence of these of their amplitudes is [EAMCET 1983]
two waves, if the amplitudes at the point P (a) 1 : 16 (b) 1 : 4
produced by the two waves is 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm, (c) 4 : 1 (d) 2 : 1
then the resultant amplitude of the point P will be 13. Out of the given four waves (1), (2), (3) and (4)
when AP – BP = 25 cm and the velocity of sound
y = a sin(kx + t) ......(1)
is 350 m/sec
y = a sin(t − kx ) ......(2)
(a) 0.7 mm (b) 0.1 mm
y = a cos( kx + t) ......(3)
(c) 0.2 mm (d) 0.5 mm
y = a cos(t − kx ) ......(4)
7. Two waves are propagating to the point P along a
straight line produced by two sources A and B of emitted by four different sources S1 , S 2 , S 3 and S 4
simple harmonic and of equal frequency. The respectively, interference phenomena would be
amplitude of every wave at P is ‘a’ and the phase observed in space under appropriate conditions
when
 (a) Source S 1 emits wave (1) and S 2 emits wave amplitude of the medium particle will be
(2) [BHU 2003]

(b) Source S 3 emits wave (3) and S 4 emits wave (a) 2 A cos (b) 2A cos
2
(4)

(c) Source S 2 emits wave (2) and S 4 emits wave (c) 2 A cos (d) 1.2 f , 1.2
2
(4)
22. Two waves having the intensities in the ratio of 9
(d) S 4 emits waves (4) and S 3 emits waves (3) : 1 produce interference. The ratio of maximum to
14. Two waves of same frequency and intensity the minimum intensity, is equal to
superimpose with each other in opposite phases,
then after superposition the (a) 2 : 1 (b) 4 : 1
[AFMC 1995]
(c) 9 : 1 (d) 10 : 8
(a) Intensity increases by 4 times
23. The displacement of the interfering light waves
(b) Intensity increases by two times 
are y1 = 4 sin  t and y 2 = 3 sin t +  . What is the
(c) Frequency increases by 4 times  2
(d) None of these amplitude of the resultant wave
15. The superposing waves are represented by the (a) 5 (b) 7
following equations : (c) 1 (d) 0
y1 = 5 sin 2 (10 t − 0.1x ) , y2 = 10 sin 2 (20 t − 0.2 x ) 
24. Two waves are represented by y1 = a sin t + 
I max  6
Ratio of intensities will be
I min and y2 = a cos  t . What will be their resultant
(a) 1 (b) 9 amplitude
(c) 4 (d) 16 (a) a (b) 2 a
16. The displacement of a particle is given by
(c) 3a (d) 2a
x = 3 sin(5 t) + 4 cos( 5 t)
The amplitude of the particle is 25. The amplitude of a wave represented by
1 1
[MP PMT 1999] displacement equation y= sin t  cos t
a b
(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 5 (d) 7 will be
17. Two waves a+b a+ b
(a) (b)
y1 = A1 sin(t − 1 ) , y 2 = A 2 sin(t −  2 ) ab ab

Superimpose to form a resultant wave whose a b a+b

(c) (d)
amplitude is ab ab

(a) A12 + A 22 + 2 A1 A 2 cos( 1 −  2 ) 26. Two waves having equations

x1 = a sin( t + 1 ) , x 2 = a sin ( t + 2 )
(b) A12 + A22 + 2 A1 A2 sin(1 −  2 )
If in the resultant wave the frequency and
(c) A1 + A2 amplitude remain equal to those of superimposing
(d) | A1 + A2 | waves. Then phase difference between them is
18. If the ratio of amplitude of wave is 2 : 1, then the  2
(a) (b)
ratio of maximum and minimum intensity is 6 3

(a) 9 : 1 (b) 1 : 9  
(c) (d)
4 3
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4
19. The two interfering waves have intensities in the KEY
ratio 9 : 4. The ratio of intensities of maxima and
minima in the interference pattern will be 1 b 2 d 3 a 4 d 5 b
(a) 1 : 25 (b) 25 : 1
6 d 7 d 8 bc 9 c 10 c
(c) 9 : 4 (d) 4 : 9
20. If the ratio of amplitude of two waves is 4 : 3. Then 11 a 12 b 13 c 14 d 15 b
the ratio of maximum and minimum intensity will 16 c 17 a 18 a 19 b 20 c
be
21 a 22 b 23 a 24 c 25 d
(a) 16 : 18 (b) 18 : 16
(c) 49 : 1 (d) 1 : 49 26 b
21. Equation of motion in the same direction is given by
y1 = A sin(t − kx ) , y 2 = A sin(t − kx −  ) . The HINTS
  ‘3’ and ‘2’ and ‘4’ have a constant phase
1. (b) With path difference , waves are out of
2 
relationship of out of two choices. Only
phase at the point of observation. 2
one S2 emitting ‘2’ and S4 emitting ‘4’ is given
2. (d) Amax = A 2 + A 2 = A 2 , frequency will remain
so only (c) option is correct.
same i.e. . 14. (d) This is a case of destructive interference.
3. (a) Phase difference is 2 means constrictive 15. (b) a1 = 5, a2 = 10 
interference so resultant amplitude will be 2
Imax (a1 + a2 )2  5 + 10  9
maximum. = =  =
Imin (a1 − a2 )2  5 − 10  1
4. (d) Resultant amplitude
16. (c) For the given super imposing waves
  
A = a + a + 2aa cos  = 4 a cos  
2 2 2 2
a1 = 3, a 2 = 4 and phase difference  =
2 2
 I A 2
 I  4a 2
 A = a12 + a22 + 2a1 a2 cos  / 2 = (3)2 + (4)2 = 5
5. (b)
17. (a) Phase difference between the two waves is
 = (t −  2 ) = (t − 1 ) = (1 −  2 )
1 2
A 2 = a 2 = a 2 + a 2 + 2a 2 cos   cos  = −  =
2 3 Resultant amplitude
v 350 A= A12 + A22 + 2 A1 A2 cos( 1 −  2 )
6. (d)  = = = 1 m =100 cm
n 350 2
 a1 
Also path difference (x) between the waves  +1 2
I max  a2   2 +1
at the point of observation is AP − BP = 25 cm . 18. (a) =  =  = 9 /1
I min

a1
− 1   2 −1
Hence
 a2 
2 2  25  
  = (x ) =  =  
2
 1  100  2   
2
+ 1 
I1 9
  +1 
 =  
Imax I2 25
 A = (a1 )2 + (a 2 )2 = (0 .3) 2 + (0 . 4 ) 2 = 0.5 19. (b) = 4
 = 1
Imin  I1   9
mm  −1   − 2 
 I2   4 
1  
7. (d) Path difference (x) = 50 cm = m 2
2  a1  4 
2
 +1  +1
2 I max  a2 
 Phase difference  =  = 3  = 49

20. (c)
I min a1  = 4  1
2 1
 − 1   −1 
x   =  =  a2  3 
1 2
21. (a) The resultant amplitude is given by
 2
Total phase difference =  − = AR = A 2 + A 2 + 2 AA cos  = 2 A 2 (1 + cos  )
3 3
= 2 A cos / 2 ( H cos  = 2 cos 2  / 2)
 A = a 2 + a 2 + 2a 2 cos( 2 / 3) = a
2
8. (b,c) Because in general phase velocity = wave  I1   9 
2
 + 1  + 1
velocity. But in case of complex waves (many  I   1 
=  =   = 4
22. (b) Imax 2
waves together) phase velocity  wave Imin  I1 
2
 9 
2
1
velocity.  − 1  − 1
 I   1 
 If two waves have same , v; then they have  2   

same frequency too 23. (a) Since  =  A = a12 + a22 = (4)2 + (3)2 = 5
2
9. (c) If two waves of nearly equal frequency
superpose, they 24. (c) A = (a12 + a22 + 2a1a2 cos )
give beats if they both travel in straight line 
and Imin = 0 if they have equal amplitudes. Putting a1 = a2 = a and  = , we get A = 3 a
3

(c) Resultant amplitude = a12 + a22 + 2a1a2 cos  1 1  

10. 25. (d) y = sin t  sint + 
a b  2
 
= 0.3 + 0.4 + 2  0.3  0.4  cos
2 2
= 0.5 cm Here phase difference =  The resultant
2 2
11. (a) In the same phase  = 0 so resultant amplitude amplitude
= a1 + a2 = 2 A + A = 3 A 2 2
 1   1  1 1 a+b
2 =   +   = + =
I1  a1  1 a 1     a b ab
12. (b) =  =  1 = a b
I2  a2 
 16 a2 4
26. (b) Superposition of waves does not alter the
13. (c) For interference, two waves must have a frequency of resultant wave and resultant
constant phase relation ship. Equation ‘1’ and amplitude
 a 2 = a 2 + a 2 + 2a 2 cos  = 2a 2 (1 + cos  )
 cos  = −1 / 2 = cos 2 / 3   = 2 / 3