Chapter 21

Superposition and
standing waves

http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/waveSuperposition/waveSuperposition.html

1
When waves combine
Two waves propagate in the same medium
Their amplitudes are not large
Then the total perturbation is the sum of the
ones for each wave

On a string:
Wave 1: y1
Wave 2: y2
Total wave: y1+y2

To an excellent
approximation: waves
just add up

2
 The combination of waves can give very
interesting effects

On a string:
Wave 1: y1=A sin(k1x- 1t+1)
Wave 2: y2=A sin(k2x- ω2t+  2)

Now suppose that

k1=k+Δk k2=k- Δk
ω 1= ω + Δω ω 2= ω - Δω
 1=  + Δ  2=  - Δ 
note:  2-  1=2Δ

And use
sin(a+b) + sin(a-b)=2 sin(a) cos(b)

to get

y = y1 + y2 = 2A cos(Δk x – Δω t + Δ) sin(kx – ωt + )

3
 Assume
Δk=0 Δω =0

y = [2A cos(Δ ) ] sin(kx – ωt + )

When Δ  =0
y = [The
2A ]amplitude can+ )
sin(kx – ωt
be between
The 2A and
waves add up
0, depending on
The phase differenceΔ in
WAVELENTGHS is 0

When Δ  =/2 or
 2-  1=2Δ  =π
y=0
The waves cancel out
The phase difference in
WAVELENTGHS is λ/2

4
 More Generally

y = [2A cos(Δk x – Δω t + Δ) ] sin(kx – ωt + )

Behaves as a slowly
changing amplitude

LOUD LOUD

5
Two waves are observed to interfere
constructively. Their phase difference, in
radians, could be
a. /2.
b. .
c. 3.
d. 7.
e. 6.

6
Standing waves
A pulse on a string with both ends attached
travels back and forth between the ends

If we have two waves moving in opposite directions:

Wave 1: y1=A sin(kx- ωt)
Wave 2: y2=A sin(kx+ ωt)

y = y1 + y2 = 2A sin(k x) cos(ωt)

If this is to survive for an attached string of length L

y(x=0)=y(x=L)=0

For example, if λ=L/2 sin(k L)=0

kL   , 2 , 3 , 4 
λ/2
2 1 2
  2 L, L, L, L, L 
3 2 5
If λ does not have these
values the back and forth
motion will produce
L
destructive interference.
7
applet
A pulse on a string with both ends attached
travels back and forth between the ends

Standing wave:
y = 2A sin(k x) cos(ω t)

λ=2L/n, n=1,2,3,…

vn T
f   n  1, 2,3...
 2L 

Smallest f is the
fundamental frequency
The others are multiples of
it or, harmonics

1 T
f fund 
2L 

8
 14.9
• Two speakers are driven in phase by the same oscillator
of frequency f. They are located a distance d from each
other on a vertical pole as shown in the figure. A man
walks towards the speakers in a direction perpendicular
to the pole.
• a) How many times will he hear a minimum in the sound
intensity
• b) How far is he from the pole at these moments?
Let v represent the speed for sound and assume
that the ground is carpeted and will not reflect d

the sound
L
h h

11
Exercise 14.9
This is a case of interference
I will need Pythagoras theorem

x1  d 2  L2 d x1  x2
x  x1  x2 X
2
L x1  X  x / 2 x2  X  x / 2
h x2  L h
2 cos x cos y  cos( x  y )  cos( x  y )

Cancellations when
y  A cos( kx1  t   )  A cos( kx2  t   ) kx=…-5p,-3p,-p,p, 3p, 5p …

 A cos[ k ( X  x / 2)  t   ]  A cos[ k ( X  x / 2  t   ]
 2 A cos( kX  t   ) cos( k x / 2)

m m m  1
m  odd x       n    n  integer
k 2 2  2 12
  1
x  d  L  L   n    n  integer
2 2

 2

d 2  L2  L  (n  1 / 2) , n  0,  1,  2
d 2  (n  1 / 2) 
2
L
2(n  1 / 2) Allowed n:
all such that the right hand side is positive
L(d /  )2  (n  1 / 2)2
 
 2n  1

λ=v/f
13
• Destructive interference occurs when the
path difference is
A. /2
B. 
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4

14
 14.13
• Two sinusoidal waves combining in a medium
are described by the wave functions
y1=(3cm)sin(x+0.6t)
y2=(3cm)sin(x-0.6t)
where x is in cm an t in seconds. Describe the
maximum displacement of the motion at
a) x=0.25 cm b) x=0.5 cm c) x=1.5 cm
d) Fine the three smallest (most negative) values of x
corresponding to antinodes
nodes when x=0 at all times

15
Exercise 14.13

Superposition problem
sin(a+b) + sin(a-b)=2 sin(a) cos(b)

y  3 sin(  x  0.6 t )  3 sin(  x  0.6 t )

 6 sin(  x) cos(0.6 t )

(a) x  0.25 : y  6sin( / 4) cos(0.6 t )  6sin( / 4)  4.24m

(b) x  0.5 : y  6 sin(  / 2) cos(0.6 t )  6m

(c ) x  1.5 : y  6 sin( 3 / 2) cos(0.6 t )  6m

(d ) Antinodes: sin( x)  1
3 5 7
 x  cm, cm, cm,
2 2 2 16
 Sources of Musical Sound
• Oscillating strings (guitar, piano, violin)
• Oscillating membranes (drums)
• Oscillating air columns (flute, oboe, organ pipe)
• Oscillating wooden/steel blocks (xylophone,
marimba)
• Standing Waves-Reflections
& Superposition
• Dimensions restrict allowed
wavelengths-Resonant
Frequencies
• Initial disturbance excites
various resonant
frequencies http://www.falstad.com/membrane/index.html

17
 Standing Wave Patterns for Air Columns
v/λ=f

Pipe Closed at Both Ends

• Displacement Nodes
http://www.physics.gatech.edu/academics/Classes
• Pressure Anti-nodes /2211/main/demos/standing_wwaves/stlwaves.htm
• Same as String
2L v
 fn  n all n
n 2L
Pipe Open at Both Ends
Displacement Anti-nodes
Pressure Nodes (Atmospheric)
Same as String
2L v
 fn  n all n
n 2L
3. Open One end

4L v
 fn  n n odd
n 4L
18
beats demo
 Organ Pipe-Open Both Ends

n=1
λ = 2L
A N A
Turbulent Air flow excites large number of harmonics

“Timbre”

19
 Problem 9

vsound = 331 m/s + 0.6 m/s TC

TC is temp in celcius

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