# Superposition of waves

How do I find the sum of these 2 waves, Asin(kx-wt) and Asin(kx+wt)?

I have no clue how to add 2 sins with diffent phases.

robphy
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Can you re-express sin(kx+wt) using a trig identity?

Humm would I use this identity sin(A + B)= sinA cosB + cosA sinB

so Asin(kx-wt) = -AsinkxAcoswt -AcoskxAsinwt
Asin(kx+wt) = AsinkxAcoswt +AcoskxAsinwt

But wouldnt that equal to zero?

robphy
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Check your use of it. Check the signs you wrote down.

oh i saw where i made my mistake

Now after I get that how would I find the

ye(x), called the envelope, depends only on position

and yt(x) depends only on time

yt(x) should be a trigonometric function of unit amplitude.

I need to express ye(x) and yt(x) in terms of A k omega x and t.

Is there partial derviative involved?

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Galileo
Homework Helper
Look at the function and see what it means. You've seperated the time and position variables. You could view the motion of each point as a function of time as an harmonic oscillator. (Some points don't move at all). Plot the function to see what it looks like. If you get some insight in the equation, the questions are very easy.

After finding the superposition forumla for Asin(kx-wt) and Asin(kx+wt), which is 2Asin(kx)cos(wt), How do I tell which direction is the wave traveling?

robphy
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Plot your superposed function for t=0. Notice where the x-positions of the peaks are.
Plot your superposed function for (say) t=0.01. Notice where the x-positions of the peaks are now.
Which way did it shift? If 0.01 is too complicated, try t=(1/12)*(2*pi/w).
If it's not clear, try doubling the value of t you just used.

Humm from what i see, it seems that the wave its moving vertically, oscillating. Is that correct? I am not too sure how to graph these.

I graphed sin(x)cos(0.01) and then sin(x)cos((1/12)*(2pi))

robphy
Can you numerically evaluate cos((1/12)*(2pi)), where pi=$\pi$.