Wave Superposition

The principle of superposition

• Whenever two waves are travelling in the
same region the total displacement at any
point is equal to the vector sum of their
individual displacements at that point
Here two waves are in phase and occupy the same space. To find the
resultant wave just add the heights of the waves together
Here adding the heights of the waves together results in no
wave as the waves are out of phase by π
Two waves approach each other and cross. At each point the
height of the combined wave is the sum of the heights of the
individual waves
Here two waves have the same wavelegths but different frequencies.
Observe what happens as they pass from phase to antiphase
Here a wave and its reflection are in the same region of space. The
reflected wave from the right has the same wavelength and frequency as
the incident wave.
Notice how stationary points called nodes occur. Exactly in between the
nodes we have the point of greatest displacement called antinodes.
What is observed is a STATIONARY WAVE.
 Stationary Waves
• A stationary (standing) wave results when
two waves which are in opposite
direction,s and which have the same
speed and frequency and approximately
equal amplitudes are superposed
 Wave superposition
Interactive Java Applet

http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~norimari/science/JavaEd/e-wave2.html
Notice that one
wavelength is the
distance between 3
nodes or antinodes