This applet simply adds the top wave to the bottom wave and displays the result below. It also generates the Lissajous figure that starts/stops the phase drift on Wave B (a.k.a. the animation). The user is free to change all wave parameters, however caution is advised to at least meet the Nyquist Criteria (i.e. keep the sample rate at lest twice the frequency) or absolutely nothing of any consequence will happen. Also, the sample rates must be the same for the addition to work properly (I have not yet finished the sinc interpolation routines), but again there are no consequences. The user is encouraged to try to find all the different patterns that can be generated by simply adding two waves together. Some of my favorites are:
| Frequency A | Frequency B | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3, ... | 1, 2, 3, ... | Basic. |
| 1 | 2.718, 3.1415 | The more irrational the frequency ratio, the more intricate the Lissajous figure. Try longer times with these. |
| 10 | 9 | Beats. Try other closely spaced frequencies. |
Changes in amplitude are hidden by the auto scaling of the displays, but the right ratio should bring them out. You can also alter the wave's direction and the animation's speed by changing the Animation Phase Step.