Two identical traveling waves of the form Acos(kx - ωt+ø) are moving in the same direction and are out of phase by ø=π/2 radians.  If the amplitude of each wave is 10 cm what is is the amplitude of the superposition of the two waves.  Use the trig identity Acos(x) + Acos(y) = 2Acos(x+y)/2)cos((x-y)/2).  Substitute x = kx - ωt and y = kx - ωt + ø and you get 2Acos(ø/2)cos(kx - ωt + ø/2).  The amplitude of the superposition wave is 2Acos(ø/2).  Plug in ø=π/2 radians and the amplitude of the traveling waves to get your answer.  Make sure your calculator is set to radians.

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Two identical traveling waves of the form Acos(kx - ωt+ø) are moving in the same direction and are out of phase by ø=π/2 radians.  If the amplitude of each wave is 10 cm what is is the amplitude of the superposition of the two waves.  Use the trig identity Acos(x) + Acos(y) = 2Acos(x+y)/2)cos((x-y)/2).  Substitute x = kx - ωt and y = kx - ωt + ø and you get 2Acos(ø/2)cos(kx - ωt + ø/2).  The amplitude of the superposition wave is 2Acos(ø/2).  Plug in ø=π/2 radians and the amplitude of the traveling waves to get your answer.  Make sure your calculator is set to radians.

 
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