CBSE Class 11 » CBSE Class 11 Study Materials » Physics » Explanation on the Principle of Superposition Wave

Explanation on the Principle of Superposition Wave

Superposition, which describes the behaviour of overlapping waves, is a defining feature of all waves. When two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant disturbance is equal to the algebraic total of the individual disturbances. According to the superposition principle.This basic underlying behaviour results in a variety of consequences known as interference phenomena.

The crests of two waves coincide in constructive interference, and the waves are said to be in phase with each other. Their superposition causes the disturbance to be reinforced; the amplitude of the resulting combined wave equals the total of the separate amplitudes.

What is the principle of superposition waves?

Wave superposition: Waves are an important aspect of our existence. While waves travel across space and other media, they frequently pass through and interact with one another. 

Assume you’re in a car, and someone in another automobile nearby honks the horn. You will hear both the horn’s direct noise and the horn’s sound reflected from the surroundings. Let us investigate how two or more waves interact as they collide or travel through each other. To proceed, we must first grasp the principle of wave superposition.

What is Wave Motion?

Wave motion is the regular and orderly movement of disturbances—that is, departures from a condition of rest or equilibrium—from one location to another. Surface waves on water are the most well-known example, but sound and light also move as wave-like disturbances, and the motion of all subatomic particles has wave-like qualities. As a result, the study of waves is a major topic in all physical science and engineering.

Vibrations of elastic media, such as air, crystalline solids, or stretched strings, are the most basic kinds of wave motion. If the surface of a metal block, for example, is struck with a strong blow, the deformation of the surface material compresses the metal in the area of the surface, which transfers the disturbance to the layers underneath.

What is the Application of Superposition Principle?

Every electrical circuit has two or more independent supplies, such as current, voltage, or both sources. The superposition theorem is commonly used to examine these electrical circuits, namely for time-domain circuits at various frequencies. A linear DC circuit, for example, is made up of one or more independent suppliers; we may obtain the supplies, such as voltage and current, using methods such as mesh analysis and nodal analysis. Alternatively, we may use the “superposition theorem,” which incorporates every unique supply outcome on the value of the variable to be determined. This implies that the theory presupposes that each supplier in a circuit independently finds the variable’s rate and, finally, makes the secondary variable by adding the variables that are reasoned by the effect.

Example of superposition

The pattern produced by shining light through two slits, the sounds heard in acoustically well-designed rooms and music halls, the interference radios receive when moved near other electronic devices, and any tone produced by a musical instrument are all examples of the superposition principle in action.

Superposition Theorem

The Superposition Theorem is applied to the solution of complicated networks with several energy sources. It is critical to calculate the influence of each source independently in order to estimate voltage and current across the components. 

And then add the effects of all sources to get the circuit element’s real voltage and current. In other words, we shall only evaluate one independent source at a time. As a result, we must eliminate further sources. For perfect sources, the voltage sources are short-circuited and the current sources are open-circuited. 

If the internal resistance of the sources is specified, the circuit must be considered The superposition theorem is only applicable to circuits that obey Ohm’s law

What is proof of the principle superposition of waves on a string?

The Principle of Superposition of Waves, states that the net displacement of a point equals the vector total of displacements induced by the individual waves. 

So, if two waves collide at a spot, the net displacement of that point is given by

ynet=y1+y2

Where y1 is the displacement generated alone by the first wave and y2 is the displacement caused solely by the second wave.

Conclusion 

Superposition describes the behaviour of overlapping waves, and is a defining feature of all waves. When two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant disturbance is equal to the algebraic total of the individual disturbances. The crests of two waves coincide in constructive interference, and the waves are said to be in phase with each other. Their superposition causes the disturbance to be reinforced; the amplitude of the resulting combined wave equals the total of the separate amplitudes. Alternatively, we may use the “superposition theorem,” which incorporates every unique supply outcome on the value of the variable to be determined.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the CBSE Class 11 Examination Preparation.

When two waves of different frequencies travel at the same speed in the same direction in a specific medium. What kinds of waves are produced?

Ans :  Beats are formed when two waves of different frequenc...Read full

Explain the principle of wave superposition.

Ans :  According to the principle of wave superposition, whe...Read full

Describe the conditions for constructive interference of two waves.

Ans : The phase difference between the two waves should be ze...Read full

In the case of destructive interference, what is the amplitude of the resulting wave?

Ans : If the individual amplitudes are unequal, the resultin...Read full