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shape.
Crest
Wavelength
Amplitude
Baseline
Trough
Next let’s look at the superposition
of some simple combinations of two
waves.
A crest of one wave is
positioned with the
The first addition of waves that will
crest of the other
wave. The same can be
be described involves two waves
said for troughs. that
are in phase.
This is referred to as
constructive interference.
This represents the displacement
by the white wave alone.
This represents the displacement
by the orange wave alone.
Since they are both displacements
on the same side of the baseline,
they add together.
Just repeat this step for several
points along the waves.
A crest of one wave is
The next addition of waves that will
positioned with a trough
of the other wave.
This is referred to as
destructive interference.
This represents the displacement by the white wave alone.
This represents the displacement by the orange wave alone.
Since the two displacements are on opposite sides of the baseline,
the top one should be considered positive and the bottom one negative.
Just add the positive and negatives together like this.
Repeat this step for several points along the waves.
Finally we observe two waves that are
partially in phase.
or
T 1
f
For a wave, if the distance traveled is a
wavelength (l), then the time to travel
this distance is the period (T ).
Since the average speed is defined as a
distance divided by time then
l 1
v or v l
T T
1
Remember that f
T
Therefore v f l
Thus if the experimenter can measure two
of the three quantities v, l, and f, then the
third can be calculated.
10 -5
(1
4 x 10 3 (10 5 )
10 )
5
4 x 1 0 8
v f l ( 500 Hz ) ( 2 m ) ( 500/ s ) ( 2 m )
v 1000 m / s
How to Manipulate Units
The example below illustrates that units in equations can
be manipulated just like numbers in equations. To
determine the frequency of a wave that has a speed of
720 m/s and a wavelength of 16 m, follow the calculations
below.
v fλ
or
m m
v
f
720 720 45 s
s
s
λ 16 m 16 m
f 45 Hz