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A student is carrying out an experiment to investigate the interference of sound waves - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 10 - 2022

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A student is carrying out an experiment to investigate the interference of sound waves. Two identical loudspeakers, L₁ and L₂, are connected to a signal generator a... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student is carrying out an experiment to investigate the interference of sound waves - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 10 - 2022

Step 1

The sound waves emitted from the loudspeakers are coherent. State what is meant by the term coherent.

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Answer

Coherent waves have a constant phase relationship, meaning they maintain a fixed phase difference and have the same frequency, wavelength, and velocity.

Step 2

Explain, in terms of waves, how a maximum is produced.

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Answer

A maximum is produced when waves meet in phase, resulting in constructive interference. This occurs when crests meet crests or troughs meet troughs, leading to a peak amplitude.

Step 3

The wavelength of the soundwaves is 0.400 m. The distance from L₂ to the third order maximum at point P is 6.00 m. Determine the distance from L₁ to P.

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Answer

The path difference at the third order maximum is given by: extpathdifference=mimesextwavelength=3imes0.400 extm=1.20 extm ext{path difference} = m imes ext{wavelength} = 3 imes 0.400 \, ext{m} = 1.20 \, ext{m}

To find the distance from L₁ to P, we use the formula: extdistancefromL1toP=L2P−extpathdifference ext{distance from L₁ to P} = L₂P - ext{path difference}
Substituting known values, we get: 1.20 extm=6.00 extm−L1P 1.20 \, ext{m} = 6.00 \, ext{m} - L₁P
Thus,
L1P=6.00 extm−1.20 extm=4.80 extmL₁P = 6.00 \, ext{m} - 1.20 \, ext{m} = 4.80 \, ext{m}

Step 4

Name the type of interference that the headphones use to reduce the sound level.

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Answer

The type of interference that the headphones use is destructive interference.

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