Chapter 21: Superposition and standing wave

The principle of Superposition:

When two or more waves are
simultaneously present at a
single point in space, the
displacement of the medium at
that point is the sum of the
displacements due to each
individual wave.
Stop to think 21.1 page 635
Stop to think 21.2 page 641
Stop to think 21.3 page 645
Example 21.1 page 638
Example 21.2 page 641
Example 21.5 page 643
Example 21.6 page 645
Standing wave
Ex: there are two waves:


The resultant wave function is:


1 sin( ) y A kx t e = 2 sin( ) = + y A kx t e
1 2 sin( ) sin( ) = + = + + y y y A kx t A kx t e e
sin sin 2cos( )sin( )
2 2
a b a b
a b
+
+ =
2 cos( )sin( ) y A t kx e =
Notice, in this function, does not contain a function of (kxt).
So it is not an expression for a traveling wave
Standing wave on a String
A standing wave can exist on the
string only if its wavelength is one of
the values given by







F
1
=V/2L fundamental frequency.
The higher-frequency standing
waves are called harmonics,
ex. m = 2, second harmonics
m=3 third harmonics

2 2
m
L L
kL m
m
t
t

= = =
2 / 2
m
m
V V V
f m
L m L
= = =
Node
Antinode
Stop to think: A standing wave on a string vibrates as
shown at the figure. Suppose the tension is quadrupled
while the frequency and the length of the string are held
constant. which standing-wave pattern is produced
Answer: a
Standing Sound Waves
Open-open or closed-closed tube

2
2
m
m
L
m
V
f m
L
=
=
m =1,2,3
Open-closed tube
4
m=1, 3, 5, ......
4
m
m
L
m
V
f m
L
=
=
Problem 21.52
A 1.0m tall vertical tube is filled with 20 C water. A tuning fork vibrating
at 580 Hz is held just over the top of the tube as the water is slowly
drained from the bottom. At what water heights, measured from the
bottom of the tube, will there be a standing wave in the tube above
the water?




When the air column length L is the proper length for a 580 Hz standing
wave, a standing wave resonance will be created and the sound will be
loud. From Equation 21.18, the standing wave frequencies of an open-
closed tube are fm = m(v/4L), where v is the speed of sound in air and
m is an odd integer: m = 1, 3, 5, The frequency is fixed at 580 Hz,
but as the length L changes, 580 Hz standing waves will occur for
different values of m. The length that causes the mth standing wave
mode to be at 580 Hz is
We can place the values of L, and corresponding values of h = 1 m L, in a table:
( )
( )( )
343 m/s
4 580 Hz
m
L =
m L h = 1 m L
1 0.148 m 0.852 m = 85.2 cm
3 0.444 m 0.556 m = 55.6 cm
5 0.739 m 0.261 m = 26.1 cm
7 1.035 m h cant be negative
Interference in one dimension
The phase:

The phase difference is






Constructive interference: = m(2)
Perfect destructive interference = (2m + 1 )



2 2 20 kx t | e | = +
1 1 10 kx t | e | = +
2 1 2 1 20 10
0
( ) ( )
2
k x x
x
| | | | |
t |

A = = +
A
= + A