Amplitude modulation (AM) and the superposition of two waves are different concepts related to the behavior of waves.
Amplitude modulation refers to a technique used in communications where a carrier wave's amplitude is varied in accordance with a modulating signal (such as an audio signal). In AM, the original carrier wave is combined with the modulating signal to produce a new waveform that carries both the original carrier wave and the modulating signal. The variations in the carrier wave's amplitude encode the information from the modulating signal.
On the other hand, the superposition of two waves is a principle in physics that describes how two or more waves can combine to form a resultant wave. According to the principle of superposition, when two waves meet, the displacements caused by each wave at any point in space and time simply add together. The resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves' amplitudes at each point.
While both AM and the superposition of two waves involve the combination of waveforms, the key distinction lies in their purpose and behavior. AM is a specific modulation technique used in communications to encode information, while superposition is a general principle that describes the mathematical addition of waveforms. The superposition principle applies to all types of waves, including sound waves, light waves, and electromagnetic waves, whereas AM is specific to the modulation of carrier waves.