Waves P2

Waves P2

1. Superposition of waves

   • "When 2 or more waves meet at a point the resultant displacement is equal to the vector sum of the individual displacements "
   • Constructive interference is when the waves are in phase and so reinforce one another
   • Destructive Interference is when the waves are 180 degrees out of phase and they cancel each other out

2. Stationary Waves

   • "When 2 progressive waves of the same wavelength and frequency travelling in opposite directions superpose and form a stationary wave with nodes and anti-nodes"
   • Distance between 2 nodes is half a wavelength
   • 2 nodes= 1st harmonic, 3 nodes= 2nd harmonic, 4 nodes = 3rd harmonic etc etc
     • overtones 2 nodes= "the fundamental" 3 nodes= first overtone 4 nodes= second overtone

3. Interference

   • Coherence: 2 sources which emit light waves with a constant phase difference and the same frequency
   • Path difference: difference between distance travelled by each wave from the point to their source
   • Double Slit Experiment

4. Diffraction

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