Phase Difference and Path Difference

Introduction

The phase difference between conductors in a three-phase system is one-third of a cycle. Current distribution in the inductor is controlled by capacitance from the coil to the outside world, which results in a phase difference in current at each end. The phase difference between two sinusoids or phasors is the change in phase angle.

The difference in the paths travelled by two waves, on the other hand, is referred to as path difference. The difference in distance covered by any two waves is their path difference. It is the difference between the distance travelled by the source and the distance reached by the observer.

Phase

The phase of a periodic function F of a real variable T (such as time) is an angle-like number in physics and mathematics that represents the proportion of the cycle covered up to e in t. i.e. called phase ∅(t), and it’s written on a scale that changes by one full turn as the variable displaystyle tt progresses through each period (f(t)) progresses through each entire cycle). As the variable t completes a full cycle, it can be measured in any angular unit, such as degrees or radians, increasing by 360 degree 0r 2 pie.

This is especially useful for a sinusoidal function, because its value at any argument t can be written as the sine of the phase ∅(t)), multiplied by some factor (the amplitude of the sinusoid). (Depending on where each period begins, the cosine may be used rather than sine.

When expressing the phase, entire turns are usually ignored; hence Phase ∅ t) is likewise a periodic function with the same period as F, scanning the same range of angles as T travels through each period. If the difference between them is a full number of periods, F is said to be “at the same phase” at two argument values T1andT2  i.e. (∅ T1=∅ T2).

The numeric value of the ∅ t)  is determined by the arbitrary start of each period as well as the angle interval to which each period is to be transferred.

When evaluating a periodic function with a shifted variant G, the term “phase” is also employed. When the phase shift, phase offset, or phase difference ofGrelative to Fis defined as the fraction of the period and then expanded to an angle ∅spanning a full turn, the phase shift, phase offset, or phase difference of Grelative toF is obtained. If Fis a “canonical” function for a class of signals, such as sin⁡(t)then ∅is the beginning phase of G.

Phase difference 

When two or more alternating quantities achieve their maximum or zero values, phase difference is being used to explain the difference in degrees or radians.

The phase difference, or phase shift, of a Sinusoidal Waveform is the angle (Greek letter∅i) that the waveform has moved from a certain reference point along the horizontal zero axis in degrees or radians. In other words, phase shift is the lateral variation or more waveforms along a common axis, and phase difference might exist between sinusoidal waveforms of the same frequency.

The phase difference of an alternating waveform can range from 0 to T throughout one entire cycle, and this can be anywhere along the horizontal axis between ∅=0 to 2π or ∅=0 to 360 degree depending on the angular units employed.

Although phase difference can be written as a time shift in seconds reflecting a fraction of the time Tperiod, such as +10MS or-50msS, it is more customary to express phase difference as an angular measurement. The equation we generated in the preceding Sinusoidal Waveform for the instantaneous value of a sinusoidal voltage or current waveform will need to be updated to account for the phase angle of the waveform, and this new basic equation becomes.

Phase Difference Equation

 At= Amax ×sin⁡(ωt±∅)

Here Am is the amplitude of wave

ωt is the angular frequency of the waveform and

∅ is the phase difference 

Path difference

The variation in distance covered by two waves from their sources to the point where they meet is known as path difference.The path difference is usually given in wavelength multiples.

Difference between phase and path difference

Path difference: It’s quite simple to tell the difference between two paths. It simply refers to the difference in physical distance between the two sources and the observer, or the distance travelled from either source to the observer. Formula of path difference is 2π ∆∅ and its unit is meter.

Phase difference: The variation in phase is less noticeable. Waves cause particles to vibrate. When particles oscillate, they go through phases, going from 0 to 360 or 0 to 2 in a single time. When a particle traverses one wavelength, it goes through phases ranging from 0 to 360 or zero to two (since a particle travels the distance of one wavelength in the time duration of one period).formula of phase difference is ∆∅=2π∆. Its unit is radian

Conclusion

The phase difference between conductors in a three-phase system is one-third of a cycle. The difference in the paths travelled by two waves, on the other hand, is referred to as path difference. When two or more alternating quantities achieve their maximum or zero values, phase difference is being used to explain the difference in degrees or radians. The phase difference between two sinusoids or phasors is the change in phase angle. Unit of phase difference is radian and the unit of path difference is meter.