06 – Wave Interference

1. 06 – Wave Interference

2. The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves pass through each other, the resulting disturbance at a given point in the medium is found by adding the individual displacements each wave would have caused. • There are three (3) types of interference: • Constructive Interference • Destructive Interference • Total Destructive nterference Principle of Interference

3. The displacement of a medium that occurs when two interfering waves have a displacement on the same side of the midline i.e.: two crests meet each other or two troughs meet each other The resulting disturbance is larger than the individual disturbances. Constructive Interference

4. The displacement of a medium that occurs when two interfering waves have a displacement on the opposite side of the midline i.e.: a crest meets a trough Occurs when the resulting displacement is smaller than the individual displacements. Destructive Interference

5. The displacement of a medium that occurs when two interfering waves have an equal displacement on the opposite side of the midline i.e.: one trough meets one crest with an equal amplitude The amplitude is zero at the instant of interference. Total Destructive Interference