Waves

Recap:
waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one point to another without transport of matter. We
call them progressive waves.
• Waves are of two types:
1. Transverse waves- Here, the direction of the vibrations is at right angles to
the direction of propagation of the wave, that is the direction in which the
wave travels. Electromagnetic waves are examples of transverse waves.

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2. Longitudinal waves - the direction vibration causing the wave is parallel to
the direction in which the wave travels. Sound waves are longitudinal in
nature.

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A transverse wave A longitudinal wave
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The principle of superposition of waves:

The principle of superposition states that:

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• When two or more waves meet, the resultant displacement is the vector sum of the
displacements of the individual waves
This principle describes how waves which meet at a point in space interact:
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When two waves with the same frequency and amplitude arrive at a point, they superpose
either:
• in phase, where the peaks and troughs line up on both waves. The resultant wave has double
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the amplitude. This is called constructive interference.

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• in anti-phase, where the peaks on one wave line up with the troughs of the other. The resultant
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wave has no amplitude. This is called destructive interference.

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Two waves interfering constructively Two waves interfering destructively

Example 1:

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Solution: To find the amplitude of the resultant wave, simply add the individual amplitudes of the
two waves at specific points. For example, at point A, both waves have an amplitude of 0.7 units, so
the resultant wave’s amplitude will be: 0.7+0.7 = 1.4, as shown below.
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