Superposition principle

Waves
The displacement due to two waves that pass
1.3 through the same point in space is the algebraic
sum of displacements of the two waves.
Superposition principle
Interference The combination of waves is called interference.
Beats Constructive interference the waves reinforce
each other
Fourier analysis
Destructive interference the waves cancel each
other.

Superposition Principle Constructive Interference

When two waves overlap in space the
displacement of the wave is the sum of the Wave 1
individual displacements.
Wave 2

Superposition

distance
The two waves have the same phase

Destructive Interference Noise canceling headphones

Wave 1
Noise
Wave 1

Wave 2
Wave 2
Anti-noise
Superposition

Distance ->
The two waves are out of phase (by 180o , or )

1
 Interference of sound waves.
Interference due to path r2-r1 =0.13 m

difference
path difference = =r2 r1
r1
Wave 1
A
Superposition of waves
at A shows interference As the listener moves from position O to position P he
r2 hears the first minimum in sound intensity. Find the
Wave 2 due to path differences
In phase at x=0 frequency of the oscillation. vsound =340 m/s

Condition for constructive interference = m

1
Condition for destructive interference = (m + )
2
where m is any integer m = 0 + 1, + 2,.

Interference of sound waves Beats

The two waves moving in the same direction have
Phase shift due to path differences
different frequencies and wavelengths
constructive destructive constructive

When r2 r1 =m Constructive Interference Time

The superposition shows maxima and minima in
When r2 r1 = (m+) Destructive Interference
displacement amplitude.
m is any integer

Beat Frequency
tuning musical instruments
difference period T two instruments play the same note.
product of 2 cos functions the beat frequency tell how different the
high frequency -sum
low frequency- difference frequencies are.
beat period one player adjusts his instrument to
minimize the beat frequency.
y(t) = A cos 1t + A cos 2 t
(1 2 )t ( + 2 )t
when the beat frequency => zero the
cos 1t + cos 2 t = 2cos cos 1 instruments are in tune.
2 2
beat frequency = f1 f2

2
 Interference in 2 dimensions Interference in light waves
Screen
White-maxima
Black-minima
Blue- zero

Water Waves show constructive and wave fronts in 2 Intensity profile for
destructive interference dimensions (white light waves
lines=maxima) (red=high intensity)

Fourier Analysis Fourier Analysis

Any periodic wave can be built up of simple Transforms the signal from the time domain
harmonic waves to the frequency domain
Example- Square wave
This is done
mathematically
using a Fourier
Transform

Square wave is a sum of odd harmonics of sine

waves f1= f0 , f3= 3fo , f5= 5 fo .........

Superposition is responsible for

many properties of waves.

Color is due to the superposition of light of

different wavelengths.

Sound texture is due to the superposition of

sounds with different frequencies.