2.

3 Linear Superposition of Wave Motion

It often happens that two or more waves pass simultaneously through the
same area. When we listen to a concert, for example, sounds of various instruments
fall simultaneously on our eardrums. The electron in the antenna radio and TV sets to
move by a whole series of signals from various broadcasting center. Water in the lake
or harbor water stirred by the propeller of various boats.
A wave propagating through a point, then the wave causes interference at that
point. The disorder can be a vector (eg deviation elements on transverse waves), and
can also be a scalar quantity (eg pressure changes in sound waves). All of the
interference depends on the position of the point which we looked and also on the
time.
The principle of superposition is very important because this principle appears
in a variety of issues such as the standing waves, wave groups, and some of the
symptoms of the electromagnetic waves (such as polarization, interference, and
diffraction). In this discussion is limited to the mechanical waves only.
To learn more about this, let us review the propagating wave equation in the

∂2 ψ 1 ∂2 ψ
2 2 2
case of one dimension, as in the equation ∂ x - v ∂t = 0, with  = f(xvt). An
essential properties of this equation is the equation is linear, meaning  and its
derivatives appear only in the rank one, the consequences if 1 (x,t), 2 (x,t), .., n
(x,t) each is a solution of the wave equation above, then any linear combination of the
functions is also a solution of the equation, then
n
ψ (x,t )=∑ C i ψ i ( x , t )
i=1

Suppose that two waves propagate simultaneously along the same stretch

rope. Suppose ψ 1 (x, t) and ψ 2 (x, t is the displacement which would be

experienced by the rope if any wave action on their own. Then displacement the rope
when both wave in action is
ψ ’(x, t) = ψ 1 (x, t)+ ψ 2 (x, t)
As the sum of which is the algebraic sum like the figure below

Figure 2.1: Example of wave superposition

"The resultant interference at any point in a medium is the algebraic sum
of each wave shape it".
This is the superposition principle which says that if some effects occur
simultaneously, the net effect of the waves is equal to the sum of the individual
effects.
Below are few cases of wave superposition, include:
2.3.1 Harmonic Waves Superposition In Equal Frequency
Here we review the superposition of harmonic waves of equal frequency, for
example. Suppose the solution of wave differential equations is
(x,t)= osin (kx-t)
Whereo is the amplitude of the harmonic wave propagating in the positive x
direction. This harmonic waves cause interference in the form of simple harmonic
motion at every point which it passes.
Suppose there are two harmonic waves in the same frequency harmonics propagate in
the same direction, each causing a simple harmonic wave as follow
1(x,t)= o1sin (kx-t+ ϕ 1)
2(x,t)= o2sin (kx-t+ϕ2)
The following figure is a superposition using fasor diagrams.

R

2

oR

o2
ϕR
1

o1n ϕ2 ϕ1

The resultant disturbance at any point is the result of the superposition of two
waves is also the result of the superposition of both vibrations at any point through
which of two waves at the same time, namely:
R(x,t) = 1(x,t)+ 2(x,t)
= o1sin (kx-t+ ϕ 1)+o2sin (kx-t+ϕ2)
= oRsin (kx-t+ ϕ R)
By using phasor diagrams then we will obtain the equation:
2 2 2
ψ oR =ψ o1 +ψ o2+ 2ψ o1 ψ o2 cos φ R
And,
ψ 01 sin φ1 +ψ 02 sin φ2
φ R=tan−1
( ψ 01 cos φ1 +ψ 02 cos φ2 )
Equation (43) shows the resultant vibration at every point passed by both wave also
harmonic although different amplitude and phase.

2.3.2 Waves Harmonic Superposition which Have Different Frequency

a. The Wave of Beat
There is an interesting phenomenon, which is the superposition occurs only between
the two waves of different frequencies. If the two waves with different frequencies
are summed, the result is a wave which its shape changes continuously with time,
where we get the wave have no a sine shape. For more details see the following
picture.

Figure 3b. The Results Superposition

The following will be reviewed superposition of two harmonic waves of different

frequency and equal amplitude, mathematically as follows:
R(x,t) = 1(x,t) + 2(x,t) o1sin (k1x-1t) + o2sin (k2x-2t)
=osin [(k1x-1t) + (k2x-2t)]
Using trigonometry solution, namely sinA+sinB=2sin1/2(A+B)cos1/2(A-B), so we
will obtain this solution below
1 1
=osin 2 [(k1x-1t)+ (k2x-2t)]cos 2 [(k1x-1t)+ (k2x-2t)]
1 1 1 1
=2o sin [ 2 (k1+k2)x - 2 (ω1+2)t] cos [ 2 (k1-k2)x + 2 (ω2-1)t]
 1 1 1 1
=2o sin [ 2 (k1+k2)x - 2 (ω1+2)t] cos [ 2 (k1-k2)x - 2 (ω1-2)t]
1 1 1 1
=2ocos [ 2 (k1-k2)x - 2 (ω1-2)t] sin [ 2 (k1+k2)x - 2 (ω1+2)t]
= 2o cos (kmx-mt) sin (krx-rt)
= or sin (krx-rt)
Which are :
1 1
km = ( k 1 −k 2 ) an d ωm= ( ω1 −ω2 )
2 2

1 1
kr= ( k 1 + k 2 ) an d ω r = ( ω1 +ω2 )
2 2
If both of wave frequency are 1  and 2 which have almost the same magnitude, so
we can write ω1= ω+Δω ; ω2 = ω; k1 =k+Δk; k2 =k, so that (ω1 + ω2)/2=(2ω+Δω) /
2 ≈w and (k1 + k2) /2 ≈k, whereas (ω1 – ω2)/2 =Δω/2 and (k1 - k2) /2 = Δk /2
So we can write as follow :
R= 2o cos [(Δk/2)x – (Δω/2)t] sin (kx-ωt)
We get a sine wave with a phase angle (kx-ωt) and amplitude changes in time and
place.
We can view this as a result of superposition sine wave, ie the angular
frequency ω and wave number k. This sine wave called a carriers wave. The
amplitude of the carrier wave changes with time and place according to the
relationship below
oR (x,t)=2o cos[(Δk/2)x – (Δω/2)t]
We see that the amplitude itself shaped the wave function called modulation wave.
So, we can imagine the result of superposition of waves as a carrier wave with
angular frequency ω and wave number k boarded the modulation frequency ω m =

1 1
( ω 1−ω2 ) k m = ( k 1 −k 2 )
2 and wave number 2 .
Intensity (I) also change to the timeoR2(x,t)
oR2(x,t)= 4o2cos2 (kmx-mt)
= 4o2 {1/2+1/2cos2(kmx-mt)
= 4o21/2{1+ cos 2 (kmx-mt)}
= 2o2{ 1 + cos 2 (kmx-mt)}

From the first equation above, the angular frequency2m=1-2atau 2m=1-

2, hereinafter referred to as beat frequency. So beat frequency happens to be twice
the frequency of the modulating wave.
Beat waves can be used to measure the frequency of the unknown. Suppose
we hear a pure tone (sine wave function), and we want to know the frequency. If a
raw sound source (standard) with a known frequency rates and can be varied ring
together, then we will hear beat. The lower beat frequency it means the closer of the
rate raw frequency with unknown. If the beat frequency is low enough then we can
easily measure, ie by measuring the time difference between two beat loud sounds
that happened.

b. Wave Dispersion
Wave dispersion is the change in shape of the wave when the wave propagates
in a medium. The above description shows that the symptoms of a linear
superposition can be viewed as an amplitude modulation process will be discussed in
particular the following material. If the graph is described =f(x), obtained

Figure 4 Graph of deviation as a function of position x.

 It appears from the graph above that this resultant wave form wave group
which is its veiled stated by low-frequency modulation wave function m namely that
modulate the amplitude of the high frequency wave rcalled phase wave (carrier
wave). This wave velocity (phase velocity) is
ωr
vr= k r
Now we investigate how these group waves propagate. If both superposition wave
have equal velocity (v1=v2) is certainly the wave group in the image above propagates
with velocity vr =v1= v2. It applies to non dispersive media (for example, the sound
waves in the air, its speed is the same for all frequencies). In a non-dispersive
medium wave will retain its shape. For non-dispersive media, have propagation speed
constant v = ω/k. The graph shown in the figure below

Graph 01.non-dispersive media

This wave propagate without undergoing non-dispersive mediadeformation

Figure 03.non-dispersive mediadeformation

The relationship between the angular frequency ω with the wave number k is
called the dispersion relation, the linear nature (corresponding graph). Phase velocity
equal to the group velocity. So for non-dispersive medium, applies:
dv / dk = 0
For dispersive media (eg light in the glass) this does not apply, because the different
frequency wave have different speed.

Graph 01.dispersive media

In the dispersive medium  depend on k (or ). Function which state the
relation and k define dispersive relation (=(k)). It appears that the relationship is
not linear so that the dispersion curve (k) is also no linear base on the graph. In this
case, dispersive wave pattern undergo deformation when propagation.

Figure 03.dispersive mediadeformation

If  small so that,
dω
v g=
dk
It means we can calculate the rate of group velocity for the wave number coefficient
tangent direction at the price k, where the group velocity at that value is
dω
v g= =tanθ
dk
While the phase velocity of the wave number k is
ω
v r = =tan α
k
Example
Determine the phase velocity and the group velocity when the dispersive relationship
=ak2, with ais constant.
Problem Solving
Phase velocity vr=/k=ak
Group velocity vg=d/dk=2ak

DAFTAR PUSTAKA

Suardana, I Kade. 2002. GelombangdanOptik (BagianGelombangMekanik). IKIPN

Singaraja (Buku Ajar).
Sutrisno. 1979. Fisika Dasar Gelombang dan Optik. Bandung : ITB.
Prasetyo, Lea,et al,. 1992. MengertiFisika (BagianGelombang). Yogyakarta: ADNI
OFFSET
Wulansari, M. 2013. Pelayangan.Artikel.Tersediapada:
http://mulyawulansari.blogspot.com/2013/06/pelayangan.html
(diaksespadatanggal 19 Februari 2015)