Question

When two objects reach the same time-space coordinates, they generally collide with each other. How is this different from what waves do?

Answer 1

Answer:

Waves superimpose upon each other when they collide, while objects do not

Step-by-step explanation:

The main difference between the collision of waves and the collision of objects is simply the superposition principle.

When waves collide, they do not do so in the same way objects do. The superposition principle explains that waves can either collide in a constructive or destructive manner.

Case A: Waves colliding in a constructive manner

When waves collide in a constructive manner, this means that they are in phase, in simpler terms, it means that they have the same shape as they move through space-time. Constructive collision leads to a formation of a bigger wave with a higher amplitude. This is how stereo speakers operate. They produce louder sounds by releasing the same audio waves, causing them to superimpose upon each other.

Case B: Waves colliding in a destructive manner:

When waves are out of phase(i.e do not have the same shape as they move through space-time) and they collide, they try to cancel each other out, leading to a new wave with a weaker amplitude. This is how noise-cancelling headphones work. They emit an equal and opposite wave sound to the noise around your ears, thus cancelling it out.