In a two-point source ripple tank experiment, what do the dark lines between the waves represent?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: In a two-point source ripple tank experiment, what do the dark lines between the waves represent?

Option a: Regions of high amplitude.
- This is incorrect because the dark lines in a ripple tank typically indicate nodes where the wave displacement is minimal, not regions of high amplitude. High amplitude correspond to antinodes, which appear as bright or strong regions depending on the visualization, not dark lines.

Option b: Nodal lines from destructive interference.
- This is correct. The dark lines mark positions where the two waves from the two sources arrive out of phase and interfere destructively, producing near-zero net displacement. These are the nodal lines where the amplitudes cancel.

Option c: Antinodal lines from constructive interference.
- This is incorrect. Antinodes occur where the interference is constructive and the amplitude is maximal. In a typical ripple tank visualization, these appear as the brightest or most pronounced regions, not the dark lines.

Option d: Areas where refraction occurs.
- This is incorrect in the context of a standard ripple tank with two coherent point sources. Refraction is a different phenomenon related to wave bending at boundaries with changing media, not the dark interference lines produced by two point sources.

Summary of reasoning: The dark lines between the waves correspond to locations where the two wavefronts cancel each other due to destructive interference, i.e., nodal lines. Other options misidentify the nature of the lines (high amplitude/antinodes) or misapply the concept to refraction phenomena rather than interference.

SPH4U - Physics 12 (2025-26) - A

In a two-point source ripple tank experiment, what do the dark lines between the waves represent?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Two small openings in a ripple tank are 3.0 cm apart. The tank is 1.2 m long, and the wavelength is 0.60 cm. At what distance from the central maximum will the third bright fringe appear?

Many product packages and ID cards use hologram stickers that change colour with viewing angle. Which wave phenomenon makes this possible, and how does it impact society?

The 4th nodal line is observed 3.6 cm from the centreline in a ripple tank containing 2 point sources. The sources are 1.60 cm apart and the screen is 120.0 cm away. What is the wavelength?

In a ripple tank experiment, students see a bright line where the waves are always higher than in other areas. What wave interaction causes this effect?

Two slits are illuminated with light of wavelength 550 nm. At a point on the screen, the path difference is 1.65 µm. Which feature appears there?

Which of the following best describes the condition for a nodal point in a two-point water wave interference pattern?

What do we call the overlapping of two or more waves resulting in a combined wave pattern?

Two slits produce light that interferes constructively at a point. What does this mean about the light at that location?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler