Waves + Optics option

4. Superposition, beats, standing waves

Superposition 2x OHP
3 sound waves OHPs
show 2 ohps of circ. waves from point source.
briefly disc and explain:
identify overlap (= interference region)
pressure vs x graph
note that sources in-phase. same v (same
range of human hearing
sound wave spectrum (cf e/mag)
medium) and same >> same frequency >>
coherent sources
4 Resonance
show ohp of double sources separated by 3
things that can oscillate have 1 or more natural
and derivation on other OHP
fs - demo swinging simple pendulum and
sketch 2 waves in phase >> superpose to give
compound pend (eg arm, metre rule)
double amplitude ie constructrive interference

natural f depends on mass of system - high m

or reinforcement
>> low natural f - demo with vibrating ruler
sketch 2 waves out of phase >> superpose to
over edge of bench, slide ruler in and hear f rise
give no wave ie destructive interference or

can force system to vibrate at any f but high A

cancellation
if forcing f = natural f - demo with pendulum

ask class to sketch graph A vs f

Beats OHP
2 waves moving same direction, similar but not
A -> infinity if no friction
same frequencies
OHP - note Y vs t (not y vs x)
disc. how amplitude changes from 2A
(antinode) to 0 (node) to 2A
beat frequency f beat = f1 f2 and beat period
Tbeat =

f beat
Derivation:
a. T is time between consecutive beats
b. after 1 beat T later contains Tf1 cycles
and Tf2 cycles
c. since this is next beat, must be 1 more f2
cycles than f1 cycles >> Tf 2 Tf1 =1
d. >> f2 f1 =

1
= f beat
T

tone that is beating

has average f of 2 freqs
f1 + f 2
ie f =
2

for sound waves hear beats

for water waves get large wave - surfers know
about this
demo - need:
double trace CRO
2x signal generator
2x speaker
set both sig gens to approx 150 Hz
demo without sound first to show
antinodes and nodes - ie visual beats >>
time the beats, find fbeat and note that
digital readout on sig gens not accurate
connect speakers and note sound
synchros with CRO
inc f x10 for both sig gens
IB most likely to give simple MC on f
formula or longer Q requiring explanation and
perhaps sketch of graph

Steve Udy Teaching Notes

5 Standing waves (2-3 lessons) - ask Jack to

set up W3 and use for demo
emphasise 2 waves, same f, opp velocity
demo with dense spring - show
nodes and antinodes
vibrating end is almost node
only certain fs produce stg waves - show
fundamental, 2nd, 3rd etc harmonics
OHP waves on strings and derive fs using
T
v=

use f1 for fundamental (Wh uses f0)

demo W3: v determined by medium (linear
density of string and tension), wavelength for
fundamental determined by L so f fixed - set
sig gen to show fundamental, then f2, f3 etc.
demo and disc use of stroboscope
6

Standing waves in pipes

disc w/ OHP
demo w/ blowing across open/closed pipe
disc end correction

7 Demos
stg wave on suspended chain - tension higher
at top >> v higher >> f hgiher >> wavelength
lower
Winscope
copper rod

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Printed on 4/7/04