A 3m slinky rests on a table with a student holding each end. The students laterally shake the ends of the slinky to generate transverse waves. The student on the left shakes the slinky at 4 hertz with a 5cm amplitude and the student on the right shakes it at 3 hertz with a 7cm amplitude.

Question

What is the maximum deflection of the string, from its resting position, between the students in cm?

Answer 1

The maximum deflection of the string can be found by adding the amplitudes of the two wave sources.

Maximum deflection = Amplitude1 + Amplitude2
Max deflection = 5cm + 7cm
Max deflection = 12cm

Therefore, the maximum deflection of the string, from its resting position, between the students is 12cm.