What is the phenomenon called when two waves meet and interact with each other?

The phenomenon in which two waves meet and interact with each other is known as interference. This occurs when waves overlap, and their amplitudes combine, leading to different outcomes depending on the nature of the waves. Interference can be constructive, where the waves amplify each other, or destructive, where they reduce each other's effect.

This concept is fundamental in understanding how waves behave in various contexts, such as sound, light, and water waves. It plays a crucial role in many applications, including noise-canceling headphones, optical devices, and even in the study of quantum mechanics.

Other possibilities, such as refraction, diffraction, and reflection, describe different wave behaviors. Refraction involves the bending of waves as they pass through different mediums, diffraction refers to the spreading of waves when they encounter obstacles or openings, and reflection occurs when waves bounce off a surface. Each of these phenomena interacts with waves in unique ways, but when discussing the direct interaction between waves, interference is the appropriate term.