The diagram shows two transverse pulses moving along a string. One pulse is moving to the right and the second is moving to the left. Both pulses reach point x at the same instant. What would be the resulting motion of point x as the two pulses pass each other?
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When two identical transverse pulses traveling in opposite directions meet at point x, they undergo superposition. Each pulse has an upward displacement. According to the principle of superposition, the net displacement at any point is the sum of the individual displacements.
At the exact moment they completely overlap at point x, their displacements add together: . This means the point moves up to twice the amplitude. As they pass through each other, the point's displacement returns to its original position. Therefore, the motion is a single upward movement followed by a downward movement.
Final answer: up then down