1 / 7

Superposition

Superposition. Principle of Superposition If two or more waves occupy the same position at the same time, then the waves combine to form a new wave. The resulting wave has an amplitude that is the algebraic sum of the individual waves at that point.

wren
Download Presentation

Superposition

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Superposition • Principle of Superposition • If two or more waves occupy the same position at the same time, then the waves combine to form a new wave. The resulting wave has an amplitude that is the algebraic sum of the individual waves at that point.

  2. Distinguishes between particle mechanics and wave mechanics • Particles never occupy the same position at the same time, nor do they obey the Principle of Superposition. • Waves can occupy the same position at the same time, and they obey the Principle of Superposition

  3. Equation for wave • Can use Principle of Superposition to find equation for waves. • Require wave to be periodic in time with cell size given by period • Require wave to be periodic in space with cell size given by wavelength. • Wave’s velocity must satisfy v = fl. • Start with form y(x,t) = A sin(ax-bt)

  4. Temporal periodicity • Periodicity in time yields • Require both sides to be equal for any x, so

  5. Spatial periodicity • Periodicity in position yields • Require both sides to be equal for any t, so

  6. Speed of wave • Define the wave number, k, to be • Recall that • Equation of wave is thus

  7. Assume peak at time t = 0 is at x = 0. Then • (-) in trig argument -> movement in (+) direction • (+) in trig argument -> movement in (-) direction

More Related