Chapter 18: Superposition and Standing Waves

From Textbook “Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with Modern Physics)”,
PHYV101 Slides by Dr. David Waswa Serway & Jewett, Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishers 1
 After this section you should be able to..
a) Derive the superposition of two harmonic waves, and to discuss the interference which
occurs.
b) Derive an expression describing a standing wave and discuss the nodes and anti-nodes
that occur.
c) Obtain an expression for the vibrational frequencies at which nodes occur in a string
d) Explain the following terms:
i. fundamental frequency
ii. Overtones
iii. harmonic series
iv. quality of sound
v. beats
e) Discuss the phenomenon of resonance
f) Obtain expressions for the possible vibrational frequencies that will occur for:
i. a pipe open at both ends
ii. a pipe closed at one end
g) Solve problems on the above
 Introduction

✐Waves are characterised by wavelength or frequency,

✐Waves can combine at the same location in a medium through

superposition (constructive & Destructive interference)

✐Waves with different frequencies can combine to create variations in

loudness called beats.

✐Any non-sinusoidal periodic wave can be described as a sum of

sine and cosine functions.
 18.1 Waves in interference
Interference – Is a phenomenon that occurs when
a combination of separate waves in the same
region of space interact to produce a resultant wave

When waves overlap, their amplitudes can add

or subtract depending on their relative phases.

Waves are in phase. Their amplitudes add together.

Waves are out of in phase. Their amplitudes subtract

from each other
 2𝜋 𝜔 = 2𝜋f
𝑘=
⋋
𝜙 – Phase constant

y = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
= 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙

we use the trigonometric identity

𝑎−𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
sin 𝑎 + sin 𝑏 = 2 cos sin
2 2

𝜙 𝜙
𝑦 = 2𝐴 cos sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 +
2 2
 𝜙 𝜙
𝑦 = 2𝐴 cos sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 +
2 2

𝜙 𝜙
Amplitude = 2𝐴 cos phase constant =
2 2

Constructive interference , 𝜙 = 0, 2𝜋, 4𝜋 … .

Destructive interference , 𝜙 = 𝜋, 3𝜋, 5𝜋 … .

Path length r - the distance along any path from
speaker to receiver
Both sound waves reach the receiver R.

The lower path length r1 is fixed

The upper path length r2 is varying

∆𝑟 = 𝑟2 − 𝑟1
Constructive interference
∆𝑟 = 𝑛𝜆, where n = 0,1,2,3,….
𝑛𝜆
➢Destructive interference ∆𝑟 = , (for n odd)
2
 path difference, ∆𝑟 = 𝑟2 − 𝑟1 = 0.13 𝑚
𝑛𝜆
For Destructive interference, ∆𝑟 = , n=odd number
2
𝜆
The first minimum occurs when, n=1 ∆𝑟 = = 0.13 𝑚
2
𝑣 343 𝑚/𝑠
𝜆 = 0.26 m 𝑓= = = 1.3 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝜆 0.26 𝑚
Interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions:
Standing wave pattern occurs when two waves travel in
opposite directions having the same frequency and amplitude,

constructive interference (antinodes) - amplitude is maximum, and

destructive interference (nodes) - amplitude is zero.
 use the trigonometric identity this

sin 𝑎 ± 𝑏 = sin 𝑎 cos 𝑏 ± cos 𝑎 sin 𝑏

This expression reduces to 𝑦 = 2Asin 𝑘𝑥 cos 𝜔𝑡

wave function of a standing wave.

 Position of Nodes (zero displacement)

𝑦 = 2Asin 𝑘𝑥 cos 𝜔𝑡 ⟹ sin kx = 0

Remember
Kx = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3 𝜋, … … . 𝟐𝝅
𝒌=
2𝜋 𝝀
x = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3 𝜋, … … .
𝜆
𝜆 3𝜆 𝑛𝜆
x = 0, , 𝜆, , … … = 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2,3 …
2 2 2
Position of Antinodes (Maximum displacement)
maximum displacement, 2A ⟹ sin kx = ±1
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋
Kx = , , ,…….
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝜆 3𝜆 5𝜆 𝑛𝜆
x = , , ,…… = 𝑛 = 1, 3, 5 …
4 4 4 4
 𝑘 = 3 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑚−1 , 𝜔 = 2 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 −1

Standing wave function is given by

At position x=2.3 cm, the amplitude is given by

𝑦 = 2𝐴 sin 3𝑥 = 8 sin 3𝑥2.3 = 4.6 𝑐𝑚

Find the wavelength of the traveling waves:

Find the locations of the nodes:

Find the locations of the antinodes

 Standing Waves in a String

The ends of the strings have nodes

because are fixed and therefore
must have zero displacement

String has normal modes, each of which has a unique frequency.

only certain frequencies of oscillation are allowed - quantization.
 2𝐿
𝜆𝑛 = 𝑛 = 1, 2,3 … Remember position
𝑛 𝑛𝜆𝑛
of nodes. 𝑥=
𝑣 𝑣 2
𝑓𝑛 = = 𝑛 = 1, 2,3 …
𝜆𝑛 2𝐿

𝑛 𝑇
𝑓𝑛 = = 1, 2,3 …
2𝐿 𝜇

1 𝑇
𝑓1 = fundamental frequency
2𝐿 𝜇
Occurs when n=1

harmonics 𝒇𝒏 = 𝒏𝒇𝟏
A system is capable of oscillating in one or more
normal modes
♞If a periodic force is applied to such a system, the
amplitude of the resulting motion is greatest when
the frequency of the applied force is equal to one
of the natural frequencies of the system
♞This phenomena is called resonance
♞The frequencies are referred to as resonance
frequencies
♞The resonance frequency is symbolized by ƒo
Standing Waves in an Open Tube in both ends
Both ends are displacement antinodes
𝜆1
L=
2
𝑣
The fundamental frequency is 𝑓1 =
2𝐿

𝑣 𝑣
𝑓𝑛 = = 𝑛 = 1, 2,3 …
𝜆𝑛 2𝐿
Standing Waves in pipe closed at one end

➢The closed end is a displacement node

➢The open end is a displacement antinode
𝑣
𝜆1 The fundamental frequency is 𝑓1 =
L= 4𝐿
4

𝑣 𝑣
𝑓𝑛 = = 𝑛 = 1, 3, 5 …
𝜆𝑛 4𝐿

In a pipe closed at one end, the natural frequencies of

oscillation form a harmonic series that includes only odd
integral multiples of the fundamental frequency.
 Remember
the wavelength of the sound wave 𝑛𝜆
𝐿=
from the tuning fork: 4

the length of the air column for the second resonance is :

the length of the air column for the third resonance is:
 Spatial and Temporal Interference
✐Spatial interference occurs when the amplitude of the oscillation in a
medium varies with the position in space of the element
✐Temporal interference occurs when waves are periodically in and out of
phase
✐occur when the interfering waves have slightly different frequencies

Beats
♣ Beating is the periodic variation in amplitude at a given point due to
the superposition of two waves having slightly different frequencies
 The wave functions for two waves:
𝜋
𝑦1 = 𝐴 sin − 𝜔1 𝑡 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋𝑓1 𝑡
2
𝜋
𝑦2 = 𝐴 sin − 𝜔2 𝑡 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋𝑓2 𝑡
2

the resultant wave function at this point is:

𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋𝑓1 𝑡 + cos 2𝜋𝑓2 𝑡

Remember
𝑎−𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
sin 𝑎 + sin 𝑏 = 2 cos sin
2 2

𝑓1 −𝑓2 𝑓1 +𝑓2
𝑦 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋 𝑡 cos 2𝜋 𝑡
2 2
 𝑓1 −𝑓2 𝑓1 +𝑓2
𝑦 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋 𝑡 cos 2𝜋 𝑡
2 2

The resultant effective

𝒇𝟏 +𝒇𝟐
frequency equal to the
𝟐

𝑓1 − 𝑓2
Envelope of the wave 𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 𝐴 cos 2𝜋 𝑡
2
The maximum amplitude of the resultant sound 𝑓1 − 𝑓2
wave detected occurs when: cos 2𝜋 𝑡 = ±1
2
The beat frequency fbeat is then given by: 𝑓𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡 = 𝑓1 − 𝑓2
For instance, if one tuning fork vibrates at 438 Hz and a second one vibrates at 442 Hz, the resultant
sound wave of the combination has a frequency of 440 Hz (the musical note A) and a beat frequency of 4
Hz. A listener would hear a 440-Hz sound wave go through an intensity maximum four times every
second.
 The ratio of the fundamental
frequencies of the two strings is:

Substitute for the wave speeds on the

strings:

Incorporate that the tension in one string

is 1.0% larger than the other
Solve for the frequency of the tightened string:

Find the beat frequency