Exercises Superposition and Interference

A siren simultaneously emits two signals that propagate equally in all directions.
directions. The equations of the waves that reach a listening receiver installed at a certain

distance is:

a) Calculate the wavelength, frequency, and propagation speed of sound waves.

b) Calculate the equation of the resulting wave from the superposition at the receiver.

c) What length and frequency does that resulting wave have?

Development

Data:

k =4π ( radm ); w=1360 ( rads )

2 π 2π1
Wavelength → λ= → =m
k 4π2

w 1360π
Frequency →f= → =680Hz
2π 2π

w 1360π m
Propagation speed →v= → →340
k 4π

b) y= y 1 + y2 → y=2 c o s (4πx−1360πt) ( 2π
+ 2 c o s 4 π x −1360πt−
3 )
we use the following identity → thing+cosb=2cos
a−b
2
cos
a+b
2 ( ) ( )
2π
a=4πx−1360πt;b=4πx−1360πt−
3

2π
4πx−1360πt+ 4πx−1360πt−
a+b 3 π
= =4π−1360πt−
2 2 3

2π
4πx−1360πt−4πx+1360πt+
a−b 3 π
= =
2 2 3

y=2¿
 (
y=2cos 4 πx−1360πt−
π
3 )
c)It has the same length and frequency as the individual waves, but with a
phase angle.

2. The equation of the second harmonic of a standing wave on a 10 m long string.

Sometimes a tension of 50 N is given by: y(x, t) = 8sin(0.2πx)sin(20πt)

a) Determine the frequency and the speed of propagation of traveling waves whose interference
produce the stationary wave in this string and calculate the linear mass density.

b) Write the wave equation of the fundamental frequency. Find the maximum vibration velocity.
from a point of the string in this mode, assuming that the maximum amplitude is equal to that of the
second harmonic.

c) Determine the positions of the nodes of the fourth harmonic.

Development
Data:

k2=0.2π m−1 ;w2=20π radians/s

W2 20π
a) f2= → =10Hz
2π 2π

2π 2π
Wavelength → λ2= → =10m
k2 0.2 π

w 2 20π m
Propagation speed → v=¿ → =100
k 2 0.2π s
 T 50N
Linear density → μ= → =¿ kg
v2 m2 5∗10−3
100 m
s

w2 rad
b) Frequency∗f1→w1= =10π
2 s

λn 2L 2∗(10m)
Wavelength=n → λn= → =20m
2 1

2π 2π
Wave number by length → k1= →k1= =0.1π m−1
λ1 20

WAVE EQUATION →y1 ( x,t )=8 s i n ( 0.1πx ) sin ( 10πt )

cm
Propagationspeed ( x,t ) =80π
s

rad
Wn=∗w 1 → w 4 =4∗w 1 → 4 ( 10π )=40π

fn=∗f1→f4=4 ( 5 ) =20Hz

2π 2π
Wavelength → kn= →k4= =0.4π m−1
λ4 5

nπ nλ
xn→= ;x1=2.5m; x2=5 m ; x 3 =7.5m=10m
k 2

3. Two waves on a string are described by the wave functions 1 = 3cos(4 - 1.6 ) y
2 = 4en(5 - 2 ) where Y and X are in centimeters and t in seconds. Find the superposition
of the waves 1 + 2 in the points

a) = 1, = 1,

= 1, = 0.500 and

c) = 0.500 = 0.

Remember that the arguments of trigonometric functions are in radians.

Development
a) y ( 1,1 )=3 c o s ( 4−1.6 )+4 s i n( 5−2 )
y ( 1,1 )=3 c o s ( 2.4 )+4 s i n( 3 )
y ( 1,1 )=−2.212+0.56
y ( 1,1 )=−1.65 cm

b) y ( 1,0.5 )=3 c o s ( 4−0.8 ) +4 sin (5−1 )

y ( 1,0.5 )=3 c o s ( 3.2 ) + 4 s i n( 4 )
y ( 1,0.5 )=−2.995−3.027
y ( 1,0.5 )=−6.02 cm

c) y ( 0.5,0 )=3 c o s ( 2 ) +4 s i n( 2.5 )

y ( 0.5,0 )=−1.248+ 2.394
y ( 0.5,0 )=1.146cm