Superposition and Interference

• Superposition is the resultant effect of two waves interacting.

  • when crest to crest the amplitude is the vector sum and increasing
  • afterwards the pulse continues unaltered
• Interference: the combination or superposition of the separate waves
• Constructive Interference is when there is an increased amplitude as crest meets crest
• Destructive Interference: when a pulse of a positive meets the pulse of a negative, resulting in a vector sum of smaller magnitude
• Complete Destructive Interference: when the two pulses are totally cancelled out as both have the same amplitude