Waves Superpostion

The principle of superposition is when two waves are travelling through the same medium at the same time. The waves pass through each other without being disturbed. The net displacement of the medium at any point in space or time, is simply the sum of the individual wave displacements. This is true of waves which are finite in length (wave pulses) or which are continuous sine waves. When using the principle of superposition we determine if the wave is displaying constructive interference or destructive interference. When you send two transverse waves down the same medium in the same direction the two waves will collide and form a bigger wave which results in constructive interference. When you send two transverse waves down the same medium in different directions they will collide and become smaller which results in destructive interference.

Waves

A wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location. A transverse wave is a wave which particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the wave moves. For example, a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and a pulse is introduced into the slinky on the left end by moving the first coil up and down. This is when energy will begin to be transported through the slinky from left to right. As the energy is being transported left to right, the individual coils will be displaced upwards and downwards. This means that the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction that the pulse moves. A longitudinal wave is a wave where particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves. Again, the slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and a pulse is introduced into the slinky on the left end by moving the first coil left and right. Energy will begin to be transported through the slinky from left to right. While the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils will be displaced leftwards and rightwards. So the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction that the pulse moves.