[syn: principle of superposition, Huygens' principle of superposition]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
principle of superposition
n 1: (geology) the principle that in a series of stratified
sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldest [syn:
principle of superposition, superposition principle,
superposition]
2: the displacement of any point due to the superposition of
wave systems is equal to the sum of the displacements of the
individual waves at that point; "the principle of
superposition is the basis of the wave theory of light" [syn:
principle of superposition, Huygens' principle of
superposition]