Wave Superposition Simulation
When two waves meet they simply add, point by point. This simulation overlaps waves you control and draws the resultant, showing how the same principle produces both total cancellation and doubled amplitude.
How to use this simulation
- Set the amplitude, wavelength and phase of each wave
- Send waves towards each other from both ends
- Display the individual waves alongside the resultant
What to look for
- Equal waves in antiphase cancel completely at the moment they overlap
- The waves emerge from the overlap entirely unchanged
- Waves of slightly different frequency produce a beating pattern
The physics behind it
The principle of superposition says the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual displacements at every point. Waves in phase reinforce constructively; waves antiphase cancel destructively. After passing through each other the original waves continue completely unchanged, which is what distinguishes wave superposition from a collision.