Superposition Definition and 673 Threads

Hello, 've been progressing through my self-studying of the Schrodinger Equation in both its time-dependent and independent forms, and I have come across an unknown term. Super Position ( in my book it's translated in greek literally superposition = υπέρθεση) My guess so far is that a...

Homework Statement http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs031.snc1/2658_1060058793594_1589658877_146788_3259033_n.jpg Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution So I know that I should use the superposition principle, and treat it as 2 superimposed spheres of opposite...

Hi, I'm not after much help here. I already have an answer, but I want to make sure that I haven't made any stupid mistakes and that I understand the question. I also have a query about the second part of the question. Homework Statement What is the probability density of the...

Homework Statement hello Everyone, I've attached the Circuit to this post. We are suppose to solve it using superposition. we are suppose to find the current through the 9 ohm resistor. Homework Equations Some relevant equations I thought were the basic ones to solve circuits, for example...

Homework Statement A very thin oil film(n=1.25) floats on water(n=1.33). What is the thinnest film that produces a strong reflection for visible light with a wavelength of 700nm? Homework Equations \lambda=(2nd)/(m-0.5) d=(m-0.5)*(\lambda/2n) thinnest film has m=1 The Attempt at a...

Homework Statement Consider a particle in a potential ; V(x)=0\ for\ 0<=x<=L and V(x)=\infty\ otherwise . Its wave function is a linear superposition of the lowest two stationary states and given by \psi(x,t)=\frac{1}{2}*(\sqrt{3}...

So here has been a nagging question in the back of my mind since freshman electromagnetism. I haven't taken a 400 level Electrodynamics course yet so I think I have more to learn. But I'll ask the question anyway. At the end of my E&M course, my professor derived a wave equation from...

Figure on top: P_{1}= (1/16)W, P_{2}=1W, P_{3}= 16W, and I want to calculate how the intensity varies with \theta y(r,t) = y_{2}(r,t)[1 + 4e^{i(\phi_{3} - \phi_{2} + kdsin \theta} + \frac{1}{4} e^{i(\phi_{1} - \phi_{2} - kd sin \theta)}] I understand how to proceed here, I just want to...

Homework Statement There are three point particles in fixed positions in an xy plane. Particle A lies at the origin and particle B lies 150 degrees from positive A (reference is positive x axis). The distance between Pa and Pb is .5m. The mass of Pa is 6.00g and the mass of Pb is 12.0g. The...

Homework Statement y''+2y'+y = 4t^2 - 3 + (e^-t)/t of course i evaluated the general soltuion to be c1e^-1t + c2te^-1t but now how do you do the right part? i tried y=At^2+Bt+c+1/(Dt+E)*e^-t as a solution but after differentiating it twice and putting it into the eqaution i got...

What exactly are the philosophical implications of quantum ‘superposition’? If an atom can both be in a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ configuration, is dualism a "scientifically proven" illusion? Is it a self imposed reality? What about quantum decoherance? If it is impossible, fundamentally impossible to...

I want to superpose two laser beams to create the beat frequency. I design the system to be like this . Two laser beams come from A and B meet at the center of the PBS, so that two laser beams going out to C and D. I tune the laser beams A and B such that the laser output at C and D...

I think this is a basic question: If a state is in a superposition of energy eigen states of the harmonic oscillator, what will a single measurement yield? Will it be <H>?

I am having trouble understanding the subtleties of this topic, which we've just covered in my QM course. I guess, if I understand correctly, that the superposition of eigenstates is not necessary an eigenstate itself, unless the states are degenerate. I'm not sure if I really understand why...

I ran into this problem while working on superposition and interference of waves...its bugging the crap out of me...mind hasn't been working well lately... A horizontal line intersects a vertical line to form a quadrant with the intersection being the origin. There are 2 vectors, r1 and r2...

Hi guys, I lurk here often for general advice, but now I need help with a specific concept. Ok, so I started a classical and quantum waves class this semester. We are beginning with classical waves and using Vibrations and Waves by A P French as the text. So in the second chapter he discusses...

Hey everyone, I've just stumbled across this forum on Google while trying to find something to help me understand a question. I've just started studying physics at AS level at sixth form, and I've been given this piece of homework, with the teacher not explaining it too well, so, I'm stuck...

I cannot see how the two can be mutually inclusive. If you super impose particles with potential energies that fall off as 1/r that are homogeneously distributed through space then take the gradient of them, I hardly believe that they will result in the exactly the same thing than if you take...

I was looking to an approach for this problem below... http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/9387/screenshot003yw2.png

the net electric field due to a collection of point charges is trivial to calculate because it is simply the superposition of the fields of the individual charges. but what if one of the charges is moving at relativistic speed and so its electric field is compressed. does superposition hold for...

Homework Statement Three charges are arranged as shown in the figure. Figure (Attached Below Could not insert the image, wouldn't work for me) Find the magnitude of the electrostatic force on the charge at the origin. Answer in units of nN. What is the angle theta betwen the...

I was working on this circuit. http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3537/imptm6.jpg The problem asks to find the current through the R2 branch... Heres my approach and questions... Start from the opposite end of the circuit...combine the 2 parallel resistors R2 and R3...the V2 goes to...

Homework Statement I have 1.805cos(2pi / 12.165x) +3.125 as the function of tidal data. However I need to use another function, superimpose, to more accurately graph the data for the tides. And yeah I'm pretty lost... Does the next function have to be something to do wit the moon and its...

Homework Statement consider the state (\frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}) in L_z basis. If L_x^2 is measured and the result of 0 is obtained, find the final state after the measurement. How probable is this result? The Attempt at a Solution I'm not sure if the state is...

What is the difference between a mixed state and a superposition?

I have two questions from the Superposition unit that I don't get it. I'd really any help on these as I have my physics exam on monday! Thanks for any help! Homework Statement A steel wire is used to stretch a spring. An oscillating magnetic field drives the steel wire back and forth. A...

Homework Statement Find I in the circuit using the superposition principle Homework Equations superposition: I = i_1 + i_2 + i_3 The Attempt at a Solution for i_1 we neglect the 12V and the 4A sources: (8 + 2 + 6)i_1 - 16 = 0 i_1 = 1A for i_2 we neglect the 16V and the 4A sources: (8 + 2 +...

Hi, I am trying to determine the validity of a formula I came across... I have not seen it anywhere else and I can't be sure wether it's valid or not... Consider a number of sound pointsources positioned on a line. The soundwaves coming from each sound source are all in phase (at time t =...

Homework Statement Hi everyone, This is my first time posting, and I really need some help. I'm doing a project on Schrodinger's cat, concentrating on superposition and the linearity of operators. I have this equation: |\psi\rangle = {3\over 5} i |A\rangle + {4\over 5} |B\rangle but I...

Homework Statement Apply the principle of superposition to a beam to calculate or show beam deflection. Homework Equations Maximum Deflection. (WL^3) / (48EI) Equation for possition two, when possition two is 3/4 or 1/4 of the total beam lengh (Cant figure out the above)...

First off: Sorry. I'm a Norwegian girl, so my English may not be of very good quality. Now that's said... I have this problem to solve. Only thing is - I don't have a clue how! I'm no good at physics, but unfortunately I have to have this class. Anyway. My problem is this: Task...

I understand that this concept is about 2 (or more) waves meeting in constructive (when waves are added to form larger amplitude wave) or destructive (when waves are subtracted to form smaller amplitude waves) inteference but I don't really understand what path difference is about? I've read...

Homework Statement We're learning about superposition in class right now and I'm having some trouble visualizing how to make simplifications using series/parallel connections. I attached the picture of the circuit and we're being asked to solve for the voltages and currents through the...

Homework Statement two electric field vectors- E1= E0 cos (kz-wt) i(carat) and E2=E0 cos (kz+wt) i(carat) . what is the magnetic field vector corresponding to the the superposition of these 2 waves? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution E=E1 + E2 = E0 [2cos{(...

Never mind, did superposition incorrectly. Homework Statement http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9206/jesus2gn2.th.png Find Vload using superposition and thevenin's equivalent Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Well for network on the left of Rload, I found Vth...

1. Three charges are placed at the corners of a rectangle (one charge of -3.3e-6 C is placed on the bottom left hand corner, one charge of 2.7e-6 C on the upper right hand corner, and one charge of -6.6e-6 C on the upper left hand corner.) of length x = 0.65 m and height y = 0.43 m. How much...

If I have two forces, F_1 and F_2, such that, if a body 'a' is applied only one of the two forces, either F_1 and F_2 for a given experiment and it is determined that.. if only F_1 acts on 'a', then the position of 'a' is given by: r_1(t) where 'r_1' is a position vector as a function of time...

1. Explain what is meant by statement that electrostatic forces obey the principle of superposition? 2. what does it mean to say that physical quantityis (a) quantized or (b) conserved.

Homework Statement Learning Goal: To see how two traveling waves of the same frequency create a standing wave. Consider a traveling wave described by the formula y_1(x,t) = A \sin(k x - \omega t). This function might represent the lateral displacement of a string, a local electric...

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of RF signals all around us from those at VLF frequencies to microwave frequencies and I suspect if you set up a very long random length of wire as an antenna, there would be a resulting induced electrical signal that is the sum (and differences) of all...

Homework Statement Hi everyone. I am trying to prove the superposition principle for linear homogeneous equations, which states that if u(t) and w(t) are solutions to y' + p(t)y = 0, then u(t) + w(t) and k(u(t)) are also solutions for any constant k. The Attempt at a Solution I...

Consider two point sources S1 and S2 which emit waves of the same frequency and amplitude A. The waves start in the same phase, and this phase relation at the sources is maintained throughout time. Consider point P at which r1 is nearly equal to r2. a) Show that the superposition of these...

Homework Statement Can someone please explain to me how to find the voltage across BD in the attached circuit. I can't do these examples. Please help. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution When I shorted one source I get the source current as 10.08mA and a voltage drop...

Question Astronauts visiting Planet X have a 2.50m-long string whose mass is 4.60g. They tie the string to a support, stretch it horizontally over a pulley 1.50m away, and hang a 1.70kg mass on the free end. Then the astronauts begin to excite standing waves on the string. Their data show that...

Just wondering what you guys think about the results of the double slit experiment...

Homework Statement Two wave pulses on a string approach one another at the time t = 0, as shown in the figure below, except that pulse 2 is inverted so that it is a downward deflection of the string rather than an upward deflection. Each pulse moves with a speed of 1.0 m/s. Assume that the...

Homework Statement How far from Earth must a space prove be along a line toward the Sun, so that that the Sun's gravitational pull on the probe balances the Earth's pull Homework Equations F=Gm1m2/d^2 The Attempt at a Solution d1=distance from probe to Earth distance from sun to...

If you had an isolated system consisting of two particles both of which were in superposition, would they interact with each other and collapse each other's wave function? Thanks, FRQ

Homework Statement u(x) = \sqrt{\frac{8}{5}}\left(\frac{3}{4}u_{1}(x)-\frac{1}{4}u_{3}(x)\right) Determine the time-dependent expectation value of position of this wave function (the particle is in an infinite potential well between x = 0 and x = a). The Attempt at a Solution I...

Homework Statement Solve for all of the currents using superposition. Homework Equations Remove the one source and solve the problem in two steps. The Attempt at a Solution Ive isolated each source separately but once i get to that point I am completely stumped on what route to take. I know...