Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Superposition is the principle that states when multiple waves or fields overlap, their combined effect is equal to the sum of their individual effects.
Related terms
Interference: The phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves meet at a point and combine either constructively (amplitude increases) or destructively (amplitude decreases).
Standing Wave: A wave pattern formed by interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions, resulting in points of maximum amplitude (nodes) and points of zero amplitude (antinodes).
Principle of Linear Superposition: The principle stating that if two or more waves occupy the same space at the same time, each wave contributes independently to produce an overall resultant wave.