A 2 sin(ωt+α 2 ). When we come to complex numbers we will see how this sort of
thing can be done using objects calledphasors(371
➤
), but really such methods
are simply shorthand for the ideas covered in this chapter. In particular we can
add two waves that are 90°out of phase using the results of Section 6.2.9, since
A 1 sin(ωt+ 90 °)+A 2 sin(ωt) is equivalent to acos(ωt)+bsin(ωt). For additions
such asA 1 sin(ωt+α)+A 2 sin(ωt),whereαis other than 90°, phasor methods are
equivalent to constructing a parallelogram with sidesA 1 andA 2 and included angleα
and taking the combined amplitude as the length of the diagonal,r, and the combined
phase to be the angle,θ, made by the diagonal with the sideA 2 (see Figure 6.15).
A 1 sin(ωt+α)+A 2 sin(ωt)=rsin(ωt+θ)
R
a q
A 1
A 2
Figure 6.15
Use the above methods to find the sine waves representing:
(i) 4 sin(ωt)+3cos(ωt) (ii) 6 sin(ωt)+4sin(ωt+ 45 °)
Answers to reinforcement exercises
6.3.1 Radian measure and the circle
A. (i)
π
5
(ii)
101 π
180
(iii)
2 π
3
(iv)
25 π
18
(v)
17 π
9
(vi) −
π
4
(vii) −
11 π
18
(viii) −
π
12
(ix)
3 π
20
(x)
91 π
60
B. (i) 120° (ii) 0° (iii) 270° (iv) 60°
(v) 30° (vi) 90° (vii) 40° (viii) 225°
(ix) 308° (x) 15°
C. (i)
π
3
,
2 π
3
(ii)
2 π
3
,
4 π
3
(iii) π,2π (iv)
4 π
3
,
8 π
3
(v) 2π,4π (vi)
8 π
3
,
16 π
3
(vii)
32 π
9
,
64 π
9
(viii) 4π,8π
Note: If you are adept with ratios you will have noticed that with the given radius the area
will always have a magnitude double that of the arc length.