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Superposition of Waves
-When two or more waves traverse in the same space a disturbance occurs.
-Individual wave contributes in the sum of the disturbance.
-It is applied in EM waves.
-The principle applies to EM waves, in which disturbances involve an electric field & as well as to several other
types of waves, in which atoms or molecules are displaced.
-When electromagnetic radiations differing in frequency, amplitude & phase angle travel some points in space
simultaneously, Then ,the resultant field can be written as:

y= A
1
sin(2
1
t+
1
) + A
2
sin(2
2
t+
2
) +....+ A
n
sin(2
n
t+
n
)

-Maximum amplitude is a result when (
1
-
2
) is 0

,360

, or Integer multiple of 360

.
(Crest to crest, trough to trough superposition )
Max. constructive interference
-Minimum amplitude is a result when (
1
-
2
) is 180

, or 180

plus an integer multiple of 360

.
(Crest to trough superposition)
Max. destructive interference
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Superposition of two waves with identical amplitudes but differering in frequencies.
i)Resulting waves are not sinusoidal but Beat type.
ii)The beat is periodic.
iii)Period of the beat(P
b
) is reciprocal of the frequency difference between the two waves
P
b
=1/=1/(
1

2
)

Important aspects of superposition in instrumental analysis:

- A complex waveform can be broken down into simple components by the Fourier transformation.

-Periodic function however the complex, can be described by a sum of simple sine or cosine terms.
(so that these can be manipulated & interpreted by human)
-The square waveform(in electronics) can be described by an equation:
y= A( sin2t +1 sin6t + 1 sin10t+.+ 1 sin2nt)
3 5 n
where, n= 3,5,7,9,11,13 & so forth.

-Decomposing of a complex wave into its sine or cosine components by efficient software.
-Manual decomposition is tedious & time consuming.

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