Phase Difference

1. TRAVELLING WAVES:
PHASE
PHYSICS 101
L2J

2. PHASE
• In physics, the term phase has two distinct meanings. The first is a property of waves. If we
think of a wave as having peaks and valleys with a zero-crossing between them, the phase of
the wave is defined as the distance between the first zero-crossing and the point in space
defined as the origin
• Depends on position and time
• Denoted by phi

3. "IN PHASE" IS TWO WAVES WITH THE
SAME FREQUENCY AND PHASE
THEREFORE LINE UP EVERYWHERE
"OUT PHASE" IS TWO WAVES
WITH THE SAME FREQUENCY BUT
NOT THE SAME PHASE

4. PHASE DIFFERENCE
• Difference between the phase at two points on two waves
at the same time for harmonic waves
• Denoted by delta phi (in radians)