CBSE Class 12-science Answered

Principle of superposition is applied in wave motion. Super principle states that  when two or more waves overlap in space,

the resulting disturbance is equal to the algebraic sum of the individual disturbances.

This principle holds for many different kinds of waves, such as waves in water, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves.

Superposition plays a key role in many of the wave properties. One such example is interference.

There are two types of interference effects. In constructive interference the crests of two waves coincide  and the waves

are said to be in phase with each other. Their superposition results in a reinforcement of the disturbance, hece the amplitude

of the resulting combined wave is the sum of the individual amplitudes.

Conversely, in destructive interference the crest of one wave coincides with the trough of a second wave and

they are said to be out of phase. The amplitude of the combined wave equals the difference between the amplitudes of the individual waves.

In the special case where those individual amplitudes are equal, the destructive interference is complete, and the net disturbance to the medium is zero.