1. Is it possible for one wave to cancel another wave so that there is no amplitude remaining?
2. Suppose you set up a standing wave of three segments, as shown in Figure 27c. If you shake with a frequency twice as great, how many wave segments will occur in your new standing wave? How many wavelengths?
1. Yes. This is called destructive interference. When a standing wave is set up in a rope, for example, parts of the rope have no amplitude—the nodes.
2. If you impart twice the frequency to the rope, you’ll produce a standing wave with twice as many segments. You’ll have six segments. Since a full wavelength has two segments, you’ll have three complete wavelengths in your standing wave.