Superposition and coherence

?
  • Created by: apple87
  • Created on: 25-05-15 11:34
When does superposition happen?
When two or more waves pass through eachother.
1 of 16
What happens at the instant the waves cross?
The displacements of each wave combine.
2 of 16
What type of interference do you get when a trough meets a trough or a crest meets a crest?
Constructive interference.
3 of 16
What does a trough plus a crest of equal size give, and which type of interference is this?
Nothing- the waves cancel eachother out. Destructive interference
4 of 16
Which way do phasors rotate?
Anti-clockwise.
5 of 16
What does the length of the phasor arrow show?
Amplitude
6 of 16
How do you find the resultant amplitude using phasors?
Add the phasors tip to tail.
7 of 16
When are two waves in phase?
If they are both at the same point in the wave cycle.
8 of 16
What is it called when waves are exacly out of phase?
Antiphase
9 of 16
Waves that are in phase have a phase difference of what?
0 or multiple of 360
10 of 16
Waves that are exacly out of phase have a phase difference of what?
180
11 of 16
To get interference patterns two sources must be what?
Coherent
12 of 16
When are two sources coherent?
When they have the same wavelength and frequency and a fixed phase difference between them.
13 of 16
What does constructive and destructive interference depend on?
Path difference
14 of 16
What is the formula for constructive interference?
Path difference= n x wavelength (Where n is an integer)
15 of 16
What is the formula for destructive interference?
Path difference= (2n+1) x wavelength / 2 = (n+1/2)wavelength
16 of 16

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What happens at the instant the waves cross?

Back

The displacements of each wave combine.

Card 3

Front

What type of interference do you get when a trough meets a trough or a crest meets a crest?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What does a trough plus a crest of equal size give, and which type of interference is this?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Which way do phasors rotate?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Physics resources:

See all Physics resources »See all Waves resources »