Question

Consider two waves passing through the same string. Principle of superposition for displacement says that the net displacement of a particle on the string is sum of the displacements produced by the two waves individually. Suppose we state similar principles for the net velocity of the particle and the net kinetic energy of the particle. Such a principle will be valid for
(a) both the velocity and the kinetic energy
(b) the velocity but not for the kinetic energy
(c) the kinetic energy but not for the velocity
(d) neither the velocity nor the kinetic energy.

Answer 1

(b) the velocity but not for the kinetic energy

The principle of superposition is valid only for vector quantities. Velocity is a vector quantity, but kinetic energy is a scalar quantity.