Wave beats

Modeling and visualization of wave interference and beat patterns in Python

• Python 3.9.0
• NumPy 1.22.0
• Matplotlib 3.5.1

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A beat is an interference pattern between two sounds of slightly different frequencies at the same point in space, perceived as a periodic variation in volume whose rate is the difference of the two frequencies

Execution

Display help:

$ python beat_pattern.py -h   
usage: beat_pattern.py [-h] [-w1] [-w2] [-a] [-t]   

Plot the superposition of two waves by definition 
of frequencies, amplitude and time

optional arguments:
  -h, --help        show this help message and exit
  -w1, --wave1      wave 1 frequency (Hz) (default: 30)
  -w2, --wave2      wave 2 frequency (Hz) (default: 32)
  -a, --amplitude   waves amplitude (m) (default: 10)
  -t, --time        points to evaluate function (s) (default: 2)

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Example 1

Input args:

$ python beat_pattern.py

Flag	Argument	Value	Unit
	Wave 1 frequency	30 (default)	Hz
	Wave 2 frequency	32 (default)	Hz
	Amplitude	10 (default)	m
	Time	2 (default)	s

Output:

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Example 2

Input args:

$ python beat_pattern.py -w1 20 -w2 24

Flag	Argument	Value	Unit
-w1	Wave 1 frequency	20	Hz
-w2	Wave 2 frequency	24	Hz
	Amplitude	10 (default)	m
	Time	2 (default)	s

Output:

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Example 3

Input args:

$ python beat_pattern.py -w1 12 -w2 12.8 -t 4

Flag	Argument	Value	Unit
-w1	Wave 1 frequency	12	Hz
-w2	Wave 2 frequency	12.8	Hz
	Amplitude	10 (default)	m
-t	Time	4	s

Output:

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Example 4

Input args:

$ python beat_pattern.py -w1 25 -w2 28 -a 2 -t 1.5

Flag	Argument	Value	Unit
-w1	Wave 1 frequency	25	Hz
-w2	Wave 2 frequency	28	Hz
-a	Amplitude	2	m
-t	Time	1.5	s

Output: