Superposition of waves

When two waves of the same type(two water waves) arrive at the same point, their
displacements will combine to result in a wave of different amplitude.
If the waves are inphase,they add together to give a wave whose amplitude is the sum of the
amplitudes of the original waves.This is called constructive superposition




Amplitude doubles Amplitude Zero
If the two waves are in anti phase( ),they cancel each other out,giving
a resultant displacement of zero.This is called destructive superposition
The principal of superposition applies to all waves










Coherence
Wave sources are said to be coherent if
The waves are of the same type
The waves all have the same frequency
The sources are always in phase or maintain a constant phase difference

Coherent sources can be can be obtained from the same wave fronts or by connecting
transmitters to the same oscillator.















Conventional light sources such as filament lamps cannot be used as coherent sources
because they emit photons of radiation with different wavelengths and with random
phase differences
Lase gives out groups of photons which have the same frequency and are all in same
phase,so the emmited radiation is generally considered coherent







Interference
Note continued.
Point P1 is half a wavelength further away from S2 than S1.Beacuse the sound from each
source is in phase and travels with the same speed. The waves will be always out of phase at P1
So destructive superposition occurs.
Similarly sound from S2will have travelled one whole wave length further than that arriving at
the same time from S1,so the waves will be in phase at P2,and will interfere constructively to
give sound of maximum intensity.

The difference between the distances from the two sources to a given point,in this
case S
2
P
1
S
1
P
1
is called path difference
Stable interference patterns occur if;
The waves are of the same type
The sources are coherent
The waves have similar amplitude at the point of superposition

If the sources are in phase then,
When the path difference is zero or equal to an whole number of wavelengths,
Constructive interference takes place
When the path difference is an odd number of half wavelengths, destructive
interference occurs.

Interference patters in a ripple tank








Measuring the wavelength of microwaves


















The wavelength of the microwaves are can be obtained using the relationship;
Path difference =S
2
P

S
1
P=n from the central maxima n=1,2,3
Where n=order of the maximum from the centre



E.g:
1. In an experiment using microwaves the position of the 4
th
maximum from the centre
was 48 cm from one slit and 60 cm from the other. Calculate the wavelength of the
waves
2. Two speakers are placed about 1m apart in a school hall. They are connected to the
signal generator. A student standing at the opposite end of the hall at appoint
equidistant from both speakers moves across the hall parallel to the line of the speakers
and hears the sound intensity increase and decrease. She makes the mark She makes a
mark on the floor at the position of the third intensity minimum from her starting point.
The distance of this point is measured to be 6.2m from one speaker and 8.2m from the
other.
a) Calculate the wavelength of the sound
b) If the frequency of the signal generator is 420Hz find the speed of the speed of
sound in air.
c) If the frequency is increased explain how the pattern of maxima and minima will
be affected.
3. A ripple tank has two dippers D1 and D2 apart, which produces coherent waves of wave
length 4cm.Is point X is a maxima or a minima

D1 . . X
8cm
6cm



D2.
4.













Applications of interference
1. Interferometer













2. Youngs double slit experiment to find wavelength of light


























3.CD player