When Pulses Meet
Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 20 of 53.
Where pulses overlap, the rope's height is the sum of theirs: superposition.
Crest + crest: bigger (constructive). Crest + trough: they cancel (destructive).
Afterwards each pulse goes on unchanged.
Challenge
A crest y₁ = 3 cm high overlaps a trough y₂ = −2 cm deep. What is the height y of the rope where they overlap?
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics
1Reflection and Refraction
Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber4Mechanical Waves
What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String