Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 21 - Superposition - Exercises and Problems - Page 624: 67

Answer

$\dfrac{1}{3}$

Work Step by Step

We know that the two loudspeakers emit identical in-phase waves. We also know that the net amplitude is given by $$A=2a\cos\left( \dfrac{\Delta \phi }{2}\right)$$ where $\Delta \phi=\dfrac{2\pi\Delta x}{\lambda}$ where $\Delta \phi_0=0$ Hence, $$A=2a\cos\left( \dfrac{ \pi\Delta x}{\lambda}\right)$$ When $A=a$, $$\color{red}{\bf\not} a=2\color{red}{\bf\not} a\cos\left( \dfrac{ \pi\Delta x}{\lambda}\right)$$ $$ \cos\left( \dfrac{ \pi\Delta x}{\lambda}\right)=\frac{1}{2}$$ $$ \dfrac{ \pi\Delta x}{\lambda}= \cos^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$$ $$ \dfrac{ \Delta x}{\lambda}= \dfrac{\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\pi}=\frac{\frac{\pi }{3}}{\pi}$$ $$ \dfrac{ \Delta x}{\lambda}=\color{red}{\bf\frac{1}{3}}$$
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