Same frequency waves

When two waves of similar frequency arrive at the same point and superimpose, they alternately constructively and destructively interfere. This alternating is known as a beat because it produces an unpleasant pulsing sound. ... This wave fluctuates in amplitude, or beats, with a frequency called the beat frequency.

1. What happens when two waves have the same frequency?
2. Does same frequency mean same wavelength?
3. Can waves have same frequency but different wavelength?
4. Do waves need the same frequency to interfere?

What happens when two waves have the same frequency?

The closer the frequencies of the wave are to each other, the less frequent the beats. When two waves have the same frequency, there will not be any beats.

Does same frequency mean same wavelength?

Assuming a sinusoidal wave moving at a fixed wave speed, wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency of the wave: waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequencies have longer wavelengths.

Can waves have same frequency but different wavelength?

4 Answers. For example, in a birefrigent medium (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birefringence), the wavelength depends on the polarization, so two waves in the same medium and with the same frequency but different polarization can have different wavelengths.

Do waves need the same frequency to interfere?

No; wave interference takes place whenever two waves of any frequency, same, nearly the same or widely different interact. An air molecule next to your ear, for example, can only respond to the sum of all the different sound waves reaching it at any moment.