phase shift

A phase shift refers to a change in the position of a wave relative to a reference point. Imagine two waves moving side by side; if one starts later or earlier than the other, it’s said to be shifted in phase. This shift affects how the waves interact—they may combine constructively (amplifying each other) or destructively (canceling each other out). Phase shift is important in fields like signal processing and physics because it influences wave behavior and the outcome of their interactions.