Two sinusoidal waves, which are identical except for a phase shift, travel along in the same direction. the wave equation of the resultant wave is yr (x, t) = 0.70 m sin⎛ ⎝3.00 m−1 x − 6.28 s−1 t + π/16 rad⎞ ⎠ . what are the angular frequency, wave number, amplitude, and phase shift of the individual waves?

two sinusoidal waves, which are identical except for a phase shift, travel along in the same direction. The wave equation of the resultant wave is yR (x, t) = 0.70 m sin⎛ ⎝3.00 m−1 x − 6.28 s−1 t + π/16 rad⎞ ⎠ . What are the angular frequency, wave number, amplitude, and phase shift of the individual waves?

ω = 6.28 s − 1 ,

k = 3.00 m− 1 ,

φ = π rad,

A R = 2 A cos (φ 2 ) ,

A = 0.37 m

Explanation:

y1 ( x , t ) = A sin( k x − ω t +φ ) ,

y 2 ( x , t ) = A sin ( k x − ω t ) .

from the principle of superposition which states that when two or more waves combine, there resultant wave is the algebriac sum of the individual waves

y1 ( x , t ) = A sin( k x − ω t +φ ) ,   is generaL form of thw wave eqaution

A=amplitude

k=angular wave number

ω=angular frequency

φ =phase constant

k=2π/lambda

ω=2π/T

yR (x, t) = 0.70 m sin{3.00 m−1 x − 6.28 s−1 t + π/16 rad}*

two waves superposed to give the above, assuming they are moving in the +x direction

y1 ( x , t ) = A sin( k x − ω t +φ ) , 1

y 2 ( x , t ) = A sin ( k x − ω t ) 2

adding the two equation will give

A sin( k x − ω t +φ )+A sin ( k x − ω t ) 3

A( sin( k x − ω t +φ )+ sin ( k x − ω t ) ),4

similar to the following trigonometry identity

sina+sinb=2cos(a-b)/2sin(a+b)/2

let a= ( k x − ω t

b=k x − ω t +φ )

y(x,t)=2Acos(φ/2)sin(k x − ω t +φ/2)

k=3m^-1

lambda=2π/k=2.09m

ω=6.28= T=2π/6.28

T=1s

φ/2=π/16

φ=π/8rad

amplitude

2Acos(φ/2)=0.70 m

A=0.7/2cos(π/8)

A=0.37 m