Answer:
zero or 2π is maximum
Explanation:
Sine waves can be written
x₁ = A sin (kx -wt + φ₁)
x₂ = A sin (kx- wt + φ₂)
When the wave travels in the same direction
Xt = x₁ + x₂
Xt = A [sin (kx-wt + φ₁) + sin (kx-wt + φ₂)]
We are going to develop trigonometric functions, let's call
a = kx + wt
Xt = A [sin (a + φ₁) + sin (a + φ₂)
We develop breasts of double angles
sin (a + φ₁) = sin a cos φ₁ + sin φ₁ cos a
sin (a + φ₂) = sin a cos φ₂ + sin φ₂ cos a
Let's make the sum
sin (a + φ₁) + sin (a + φ₂) = sin a (cos φ₁ + cos φ₂) + cos a (sin φ₁ + sinφ₂)
to have a maximum of the sine function, the cosine of fi must be maximum
cos φ₁ + cos φ₂ = 1 +1 = 2
the possible values of each phase are
φ1 = 0, π, 2π
φ2 = 0, π, 2π,
so that the phase difference of being zero or 2π is maximum
