Destructive interference occurs when waves are

Destructive interference occurs when waves are

• A. Constructive Interference
• B. Destructive Interference
• C. No Interference
• D. Always At Same Frequency

Answer: (B)

Destructive interference happens because waves follow the superposition principle, adding their displacements when they meet. When two waves are out of phase by half a cycle, a crest lines up with a trough and they subtract from each other. If their amplitudes are the same, they can cancel completely at certain points; if not, the resulting amplitude is just reduced. This is different from constructive interference, where waves are in phase and reinforce each other. The waves don’t have to have the same frequency for destructive interference to occur, though a steady phase relationship makes the cancellation pattern clearer.

Destructive interference happens because waves follow the superposition principle, adding their displacements when they meet. When two waves are out of phase by half a cycle, a crest lines up with a trough and they subtract from each other. If their amplitudes are the same, they can cancel completely at certain points; if not, the resulting amplitude is just reduced. This is different from constructive interference, where waves are in phase and reinforce each other. The waves don’t have to have the same frequency for destructive interference to occur, though a steady phase relationship makes the cancellation pattern clearer.