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Why does a square wave contain more harmonics than a sine wave?

April 26, 2017contain harmonics Mathematics Physics Sine square wave

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Why does a square wave contain more harmonics than a sine wave?

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A sine wave is a smooth wave, with no abrupt transitions. A square wave is the most harmonic-riddled wave, since its abrupt changes “ring” up and down the frequency spectrum. One way to form an approximation of a square wave is to add particular sine waves together. All of those sine waves together become the harmonics of the resultant square wave.