A wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium or space, transferring energy without transferring matter. Waves have characteristic properties like wavelength and amplitude. The wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks, while amplitude represents the maximum displacement from equilibrium.
The wave superposition principle states that when two or more waves meet in the same medium, the total displacement at any point equals the vector sum of individual wave displacements. This means waves can add constructively or destructively, creating interference patterns.
Constructive interference occurs when waves are in phase, meaning their peaks and troughs align perfectly. In this case, the amplitudes add together, creating a wave with greater amplitude than either individual wave. This demonstrates how wave superposition can amplify the signal.
Destructive interference occurs when waves are out of phase, meaning peaks align with troughs. In this case, the waves subtract from each other, reducing the overall amplitude. When perfectly out of phase, waves can completely cancel each other out, demonstrating the power of wave superposition.
An important property of wave superposition is that waves maintain their independence. After overlapping and interfering with each other, waves continue to propagate according to their original properties. They pass through each other without any permanent change, demonstrating the linear nature of wave behavior.