[Mr. K]

I always wondered this about waves-

If two waves are traveling in such a way that they cancel each other out, then how is energy still transferred past the point where they cancel?

Would you have a perfectly flat spot in the ocean -where all waves cancel each other- suddenly a wave appears on the opposit end?

[grey_whiskers]

Would you have a perfectly flat spot in the ocean -where all waves cancel each other- suddenly a wave appears on the opposite end?

I do believe you're conflating transverse waves (motion of particles perpendicular to the motion of the wave) and longitudinal waves (motion of particles parallel to the motion of the wave).

Water waves are confusing because they involve both types of motion. G'rrr.

Here's a website which gives a good run down:

Mechanical Waves.

And a link therein.

If you think that's weird, then feast your eyes on this:

Slinky Defies Gravity

Cheers!

[wideminded]

If two waves are traveling in such a way that they cancel each other out, then how is energy still transferred past the point where they cancel?

Would you have a perfectly flat spot in the ocean -where all waves cancel each other- suddenly a wave appears on the opposit end?

If two water waves of equal amplitude and exactly opposite direction are passing each other, they don't cancel out to make a flat surface. They form a stationary wave that goes up and down but doesn't appear to move sideways. In this wave there are parallel lines on the surface along which there is no up and down motion. So the wave is essentially cancelling out along these nodal lines. How does the wave energy get past these lines? Water sloshes back and forth under the surface.