The horizontal axis is time, so X is oscillating up before Y is oscillating up. Look at the origin -- X is full size, and Y is just starting to move positive from zero... The key is to look at where the two waveforms are at the same time (say t=0) and ask yourself which one is "leading" the other. Makes sense?ravsterphysics said:
Out of phase waves refer to two or more waves that have different amplitudes and/or wavelengths, resulting in a phase difference between them. This means that the peaks and troughs of the waves do not align, creating a complex interference pattern.
The relevant equation, also known as the interference equation, can be used to determine the resulting amplitude of two or more out of phase waves at any given point. It takes into account the amplitudes, wavelengths, and phase differences of the individual waves to calculate the overall amplitude at a specific position.
The phase difference between two waves directly affects the interference pattern they create. When two waves are in phase (with a phase difference of 0), they will constructively interfere and create a larger amplitude. On the other hand, when two waves are out of phase (with a phase difference of 180 degrees), they will destructively interfere and cancel each other out.
Out of phase waves and their interference patterns are utilized in various technologies, such as noise-cancelling headphones and ultrasound imaging. In noise-cancelling headphones, two out of phase sound waves are used to cancel out external noise, while in ultrasound imaging, the phase difference between two waves is used to create detailed images of internal structures.
One challenge in solving the relevant equation is accurately measuring the amplitudes and wavelengths of the individual waves. Additionally, understanding and manipulating the phase difference can also be difficult, as small changes can greatly alter the interference pattern. Finally, the relevant equation assumes ideal conditions, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios.