superposition principle

(noun)

The principle that a linear combination of two or more solutions of an equation is itself a solution; it is a feature of many physical laws.

Related Terms

Examples of superposition principle in the following topics:

  • Superposition of Forces

    • The superposition principle (superposition property) states that for all linear forces the total force is a vector sum of individual forces.
    • The superposition principle (also known as superposition property) states that: for all linear systems, the net response at a given place and time caused by two or more stimuli is the sum of the responses which would have been caused by each stimulus individually.
    • Therefore, the principle suggests that total force is a vector sum of individual forces.
    • The principle of linear superposition allows the extension of Coulomb's law to include any number of point charges—in order to derive the force on any one point charge by a vector addition of these individual forces acting alone on that point charge.
    • Apply the superposition principle to determine the net response caused by two or more stimuli

  • Superposition of Fields

    • As vector fields, electric fields obey the superposition principle.
    • This principle states that for all linear systems, the net response to multiple stimuli at a given place and time is equal to the sum of the responses that would have resulted from each stimulus individually.
    • It should be noted that the superposition principle is applicable to any linear system, including algebraic equations, linear differential equations, and systems of equations of the aforementioned forms.

  • Single Slit Diffraction

    • It is explained by the Huygens-Fresnel Principle, and the principal of superposition of waves.
    • The superposition principle states that at any point, the net result of multiple stimuli is the sum of all stimuli.
    • This is the most simplistic way of using the Huygens-Fresnel Principle, which was covered in a previous atom, and applying it to slit diffraction.

  • Superposition and Interference

    • A wave may have a complicated shape that can result from superposition and interference of several waves.
    • As a result of superposition of waves, interference can be observed.
    • This superposition produces pure constructive interference.
    • These waves result from the superposition of several waves from different sources, producing a complex pattern.
    • A brief introduction to constructive and destructive wave interference and the principle of superposition.

  • Conditions for Wave Interference: Reflection due to Phase Change

    • A brief introduction to constructive and destructive wave interference and the principle of superposition.

  • Introduction to the Fourier Series

    • So, the motivation for further study of such a Fourier superposition is clear.
    • If we somehow had an automatic way of representing these data as a superposition of sinusoids of various frequencies, then might we not expect these characteristic frequencies to manifest themselves in the size of the coefficients of this superposition?
    • The answer is yes, and this is one of the principle aims of Fourier analysis.
    • Consider the superposition of two sinusoids of nearly the same frequency:

  • Superposition

    • Superposition occurs when two waves occupy the same point (the wave at this point is found by adding the two amplitudes of the waves).
    • More specifically, the disturbances of waves are superimposed when they come together (a phenomenon called superposition).
    • Superposition of waves leads to what is known as interference, which manifests in two types: constructive and destructive.
    • Constructive interference occurs when two waves add together in superposition, creating a wave with cumulatively higher amplitude, as shown in .
    • Superposition is when two waves add together.

  • Diffraction

    • As physical objects have wave-like properties (at the atomic level), diffraction also occurs with matter and can be studied according to the principles of quantum mechanics.
    • This is due to the superposition, or interference, of different parts of a wave that travel to the observer by different paths.
    • This principle can be extended to engineer a grating with a structure such that it will produce any diffraction pattern desired, like the hologram on a credit card.

  • Beats

    • The superposition of two waves of similar but not identical frequencies produces a pulsing known as a beat.
    • The culprit is the superposition of two waves of similar but not identical frequencies.
    • The wave resulting from the superposition of two similar-frequency waves has a frequency that is the average of the two.
    • Beats are produced by the superposition of two waves of slightly different frequencies but identical amplitudes.The waves alternate in time between constructive interference and destructive interference, giving the resulting wave a time-varying amplitude.

  • Superposition of Electric Potential

    • The summing of all voltage contributions to find the total potential field is called the superposition of electric potential.