PHYA22H3 Chapter 21: PHYA22 Chapter 21.doc

• School: UTSC
• Department: Physics and Astrophysics
• Course: PHYA22H3
• Professor: Brian Wilson

Document Summary

Principle of superposition: when two or more waves are simultaneously present at a single point in space, the displacement of the medium at that point is the sum of the displacements due to each individual wave. Standing wave: the superposition of two waves, where the crests and troughs. Stand in place as the wave oscillates. and the same amplitude: we assume that two waves have the same frequency, the same wavelength, nodes: points that never move; nodes are spaced l. Intensity is maximum at points of constructive interference and zero at points of destructive interference (if the waves have equal amplitudes). Sinusoidal wave traveling to the right: d = asin(kx wt) Sinusoidal wave traveling to the left: d = asin(kx + wt: net displacement of the medium when both waves are present: d(x,t) = Frequency: f = w/2p: amax = 2a at points where sinkx = 1, wave number: k = 2p, angular frequency: w = 2p f.