Interference and Superposition - High School Physics
Card 0 of 9
Two piano strings are supposed to be vibrating at 
, but a piano tuner hears 4 beats every 3 seconds when they are played together. If one of the piano strings is vibrating correctly at 
, what must be the frequency of the other?
Two piano strings are supposed to be vibrating at 
With the information provided we can determine the frequency of the beats.
This means that the string of the piano could either be this much higher or lower than the 
string.
With the information provided we can determine the frequency of the beats.
This means that the string of the piano could either be this much higher or lower than the 
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The siren of a police car at rest emits a frequency of about 
. What frequency will you hear if you are at rest and the police car moves 
away from you?
The siren of a police car at rest emits a frequency of about 
This is an example of the doppler effect. In this case the source is moving away from a stationary observer. Therefore the corresponding equation is
This is an example of the doppler effect. In this case the source is moving away from a stationary observer. Therefore the corresponding equation is
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Two waves, each with an amplitude of 
are superimposed with constructive interference such that they are in phase. What is the resultant amplitude?
Two waves, each with an amplitude of 
When two waves are superimposed, the interference can either be constructive or destructive. In this case, the interference is constructive and the waves are in phase, which means we add the amplitudes together.
Since each wave has an amplitude of 
, our new amplitude will be 
.
When two waves are superimposed, the interference can either be constructive or destructive. In this case, the interference is constructive and the waves are in phase, which means we add the amplitudes together.
Since each wave has an amplitude of 
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Two waves, one with an amplitude of 
and the other of 
are superimposed with destructive interference. What is the resultant amplitude?
Two waves, one with an amplitude of 
When two waves are superimposed, the interference can be either constructive or destructive. In this case the interference is destructive, which means our resultant amplitude will be the difference of the two given amplitudes.
That means our new amplitude will be 
.
When two waves are superimposed, the interference can be either constructive or destructive. In this case the interference is destructive, which means our resultant amplitude will be the difference of the two given amplitudes.
That means our new amplitude will be 
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A piano tuner hears one beat every 
when trying to adjust two strings, one of which is sounding 
. How far off in frequency is the other string?
A piano tuner hears one beat every 
We can calculate the frequency of the beat using the equation
This is the beat frequency which means that the other string is off by 
either higher or lower.
We can calculate the frequency of the beat using the equation
This is the beat frequency which means that the other string is off by 
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Two identical waves are superimposed with destructive interference. What will happen to the resulting wave?
Two identical waves are superimposed with destructive interference. What will happen to the resulting wave?
When two waves are superimposed with destructive interference, they cancel each other out. Since these two waves are identical, they will completely cancel each other out and there will be no wave. It will be still.
When two waves are superimposed with destructive interference, they cancel each other out. Since these two waves are identical, they will completely cancel each other out and there will be no wave. It will be still.
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Resonance in a system, such as a string fixed on both ends, occurs when
Resonance in a system, such as a string fixed on both ends, occurs when
When we think about a violin or a guitar string that is being plucked, there are a variety of waves of different frequencies that will travel along the string and be reflected back at the ends. Most interfere with each other and disappear. The few that don’t will remain. These are called the resonant frequencies. These frequencies create standing waves on the string. If the frequencies do not align, they will interfere and die out. However, if the frequency is the same standing waves occur and resonance occurs. We can also see this in a tuning fork. If we have two tuning forks of the same frequency and we strike the first and bring it near the second, it will begin to resonant as well as the air molecules strike the second fork causing it to vibrate. If we do the same test with two different frequency forks, nothing will occur.
When we think about a violin or a guitar string that is being plucked, there are a variety of waves of different frequencies that will travel along the string and be reflected back at the ends. Most interfere with each other and disappear. The few that don’t will remain. These are called the resonant frequencies. These frequencies create standing waves on the string. If the frequencies do not align, they will interfere and die out. However, if the frequency is the same standing waves occur and resonance occurs. We can also see this in a tuning fork. If we have two tuning forks of the same frequency and we strike the first and bring it near the second, it will begin to resonant as well as the air molecules strike the second fork causing it to vibrate. If we do the same test with two different frequency forks, nothing will occur.
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Two pure tones are sounded together and a particular beat frequency is heard. What happens to the beat frequency if the frequency on one of the tones is increased?
Two pure tones are sounded together and a particular beat frequency is heard. What happens to the beat frequency if the frequency on one of the tones is increased?
Beats occur due to the interference of two different frequencies that are occurring at the same time. These beats are repetitive patterns of loud and soft interference that happen at regular intervals. To calculate the beat frequency, simply take the difference of the two frequencies. This means that if the higher frequency is increased, the beat frequency is increasing and is getting farther away from the lower frequency. If the lower frequency is increased, the beat frequency is decreasing as it is getting closer to the higher frequency and therefore reducing the difference between the two.
Beats occur due to the interference of two different frequencies that are occurring at the same time. These beats are repetitive patterns of loud and soft interference that happen at regular intervals. To calculate the beat frequency, simply take the difference of the two frequencies. This means that if the higher frequency is increased, the beat frequency is increasing and is getting farther away from the lower frequency. If the lower frequency is increased, the beat frequency is decreasing as it is getting closer to the higher frequency and therefore reducing the difference between the two.
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An ambulance turns on its siren as it is driving away from you. What happens to the sound pitch?
An ambulance turns on its siren as it is driving away from you. What happens to the sound pitch?
The Doppler effect states that the frequency of sound increases as it approaches you and decreases as it goes away from you.
Since it is going away from you, the pitch of the sound will appear to get lower.
The Doppler effect states that the frequency of sound increases as it approaches you and decreases as it goes away from you.
Since it is going away from you, the pitch of the sound will appear to get lower.
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