phase of a wave
wavefront
phase difference
path difference
superposition
coherence
interference
Meaning of Phase of a Wave
• An important characteristic of a
progressive wave is its phase.
• Phase of a wave specifies the location or
timing of a point within a wave cycle of a
repetitive waveform
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Meaning of Waves in Phase
A phase is the position of a wave at a
point in time (instant) on a waveform
cycle.
Two waves are said to be in phase when
their peaks & troughs match at any
instant in time
Measuring Phase of a Wave
The phase of a wave is measured in radians, which are
non-dimensional units.
It represents a fraction of a wave cycle.
Therefore, in a wave, a complete cycle is equal to 2π [rad]
Half a cycle is π [rad], while a quarter of a cycle is π/2 [rad].
Understanding Phase Difference
• The phase of a wave is the value representing the
fraction of a wave cycle, expressed in π [rad].
• The phase difference between two waves is the
cycle difference between the waves at the same
point
• The phase difference between two waves is a
measure of how much a point or a wave is in
front or behind another
Phase Representation
Wave cycles can be divided into degrees or
radians, with each cycle covering 3600 or
2𝝅 radians.
Cycles repeat after 3600 or 2𝝅 radians.
Every value larger than 3600 or 2𝝅 radians is a
repetition of the values between 00 - 3600 or 0
𝝅 - 2𝝅 radians
Measuring Phase of a Wave
The phase of a wave is measured in radians, which are
non-dimensional units.
It represents a fraction of a wave cycle.
Therefore, in a wave, a complete cycle is equal to 2π [rad]
Half a cycle is π [rad], while a quarter of a cycle is π/2 [rad].
? Wavefront
? Wavefront
A wave front is the top of the wave /
wave crest or bottom of the wave / wave
trough
A wave front is identified where areas of
the waves are in the same phase.
Wavefront
A wavefront is an imaginary line or plane on which-
• Every point is in phase on the vibrations on the
wavefronts
• The wave propagates in a direction perpendicular
to the wavefront
• The energy of the wave travels in a direction
perpendicular to the wavefront
Waves in Phase
All points X, Y & Z on
waveform A are at the
same corresponding point
on the waveform B.
Hence waves A & B are
said to be in phase
Waves in Phase
The positions of the peaks
(X), troughs (Y) and
zero-crossing points (Z) of
both waves all coincide.
The waves have a zero
phase difference, or, the
waves are said to be in
phase.
Understanding Phase Difference
We can think of phase difference in terms of two
waves of IDENTICAL WAVELENGTH produced with
a time delay between them.
Phase Difference
The phase difference of waves occurs when two waves
move & their cycles do not coincide.
The phase difference is known as the cycle difference
between two waves at the same point.
Overlapping waves that have the same cycle are
known as in-phase waves.
Waves that have the same cycle but do not overlap are
known as out-of-phase waves.
Path Difference
Path difference is the difference in the path
traversed (𝞴) by the two waves.
Path difference describes the difference in
distance between the routes taken by two waves
In-phase Waves
When waves are in phase,
• They produce a regular pattern of oscillation
• The crests & troughs coincide with each other
• In extreme cases the waves combine with each
other if they have the same displacement
• If that is the case, the waves are said to be in-phase,
and the effect of that is known as constructive
interference.
Out-of-phase Waves
When waves are out-of-phase,
• They produce an irregular pattern of oscillation
• The crests & troughs don’t overlap.
• In extreme cases the displacements of waves cancel each
other out if they have the same displacement.
• If that is the case, the waves are said to be in anti-phase,
and the effect of that is known as destructive interference.
Difference between Phase & Path Difference
Phase difference is the difference in the phase angle (𝝅
radians) of the two waves.
Path difference is the difference in the path traversed
(𝞴) by the two waves.
The relation between phase difference & path
difference is direct.
They are directly proportional to each other.
Understanding Phase at different points in a
progressive wave
Understanding Phase at different points in a
progressive wave
Understanding Phase & Path Difference
Phase difference is the difference in phase angle (𝝅 radians) of
the two waves.
Path difference is the difference in path traversed (wavelength) by
the two waves.
Relationship between Phase & Path Difference
Angle in
Radian ½ 𝝅 𝝅 ¾𝝅 2 𝝅
Angle in
Degrees 90 180 270 360
Wavelength 𝞴
¼𝞴 ½𝞴 ¾ 𝞴
Relationship between Phase & Path Difference
Phase difference = 2𝝅 x path difference
𝞴
Path difference = 𝞴 x phase difference
2𝝅
Determines FRACTION of the cycle
Coherent Waves
Coherent waves are waves having the same
source, same frequency/ wavelength and a
constant phase difference.
If the frequencies of the two waves are not
the same & there is no constant phase
difference, they are called non-coherent
waves.
Principle of Wave Superposition
The principle of superposition may be applied
to waves whenever two (or more) waves are travelling
through the same medium at the same time.
When two waves interact the resultant displacement is
the vector sum of individual displacements
Match & Explain
Wave Interference
Interference occurs whenever two or more waves combine
to produce a resultant wave with a new resultant
displacement
The waves combine according to the principle of
superposition
Constructive interference happens when the resultant wave
has a larger displacement than any of the individual waves
Destructive interference happens when the positive
displacement of one wave & the negative displacement of
another wave exactly cancel out giving a resultant
displacement of zero
Coherence & Interference
Interference of two coherent waves in phase
produces a resultant wave with a new maximum
resultant displacement that is the sum of
individual displacements
Interference of two coherent waves in anti-phase
produces a resultant wave with a new zero
resultant displacement that is the sum of
individual displacements
Constructive Interference
When two in-phase coherent waves interfere the
resultant displacement is maximum and is the sum of
individual displacements.
This is known as Constructive Interference
For constructive interference, the phase difference should
be 0, 2π, 4π . . .
Hence, the path difference must be 0, 𝞴, 2𝞴 . . .
In general, integral multiples of 𝞴 or n𝞴
Destructive Interference
When two coherent waves in anti-phase interfere the
resultant displacement is minimum or zero and is due to
cancellation of individual displacements.
This is known as Destructive Interference
For destructive interference, the phase difference should
be 3π, 5π . . .
Hence, the path difference must be 𝞴/2, 3𝞴/2 . . .
In general, half integral multiples of 𝞴, or (n+1/2) 𝞴
Examples of waves with a phase difference
The phase difference produces different effects, depending on the wave
phenomena, which can be used for many practical applications.
• Seismic waves: systems of springs, masses, and resonators use cyclical
movement to counteract vibrations produced by seismic waves.
Systems installed in many buildings reduce the amplitude of the
oscillations, thus reducing structural stress.
• Noise-cancelling technologies: many noise-cancelling technologies use
a system of sensors to measure the incoming frequencies and produce
a sound signal that cancels out those incoming sound waves. The
incoming sound waves thus have their amplitude reduced, which in
sound is directly related to the noise intensity.
• Power systems: where an alternating current is being used, voltage and
currents can have a phase difference. This is used to identify the circuit
as its value will be negative in capacitive circuits and positive in
inductive circuits.