What types of waves are involved in complete destructive interference?

Complete destructive interference occurs when two waves combine in such a way that they completely cancel each other out. This phenomenon is specifically associated with out of phase waves, which means that when one wave reaches a peak, the other wave reaches a trough at the same time. The peaks and troughs of the waves are aligned oppositely, leading to total cancellation of the amplitude at that point in space and time.

In this scenario, the resultant wave shows no amplitude, indicating complete cancellation. This principle is essential in various applications, such as noise-canceling headphones, where specific sound waves are produced to interfere destructively with unwanted sounds.

In contrast, in-phase waves combine constructively, increasing amplitude rather than canceling out. Longitudinal and transverse describe the nature of mechanical waves but do not define the interference effect itself, as both types of waves can experience either constructive or destructive interference based on their phase relationship.