PHYS/MUS 102, SPRING 2015 Wave Interference
Longitudinal drawn as Transverse Waves 1. It’s a longitudinal wave 2. But it can be represented by drawing our typical sine wave
What happens when 2 pulses interfere? Constructive Interference Destructive Interference
Wave interference (aka superposition)
What happens when 2 sources with different frequencies interfere?
Answer: Beats! f sum = Questions: Where does occur in a music context, and what will this sound like?
Tune up
Two-source interference
Quantifying intensity maxima m = 0 m = 1 m = 2 m = -1 m = -2 d L z Source 1 Source 2
Phase shift
Predicted (theoretical) locations of maxima/minima Maxima occur where: m = d sin = d (z/L) m = …-2, -1, 0, 1, 2 Minima occur where: (m+1/2) = d sin = d (z/L)
Symphony of Superposition
Image sources Boston University