Description
Decompose a signed wave phase in cycles into floor-based complete cycles and a nonnegative within-cycle phase, not a wave propagation model.
Wave phase can be expressed in cycles, degrees, or radians. A change of time origin or propagation distance changes phase according to an explicit sign convention. Wrapped phase identifies a location within one cycle; unwrapped phase retains the signed number of cycles.
Decompose a signed wave phase in cycles into floor-based complete cycles and a nonnegative within-cycle phase, not a wave propagation model.
When to use this tool
Use Physics: Wave Phase Fraction Label when you need the stated phase conversion or one wave-model factor with an explicit time and direction convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter phaseCycles. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read result. Expand result to inspect the returned fields.
For phaseCycles within -1e9 through 1e9 return fractionalCycle=phaseCycles modulo one, phaseDegrees=360*fractionalCycle, and completeCycles=floor(phaseCycles) inside result.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| phaseCycles | Phase Cycles | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| result | Object containing the calculated result members described below. | Required. Object. |
| result.fractionalCycle | Fractional Cycle | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.phaseDegrees | Phase Degrees | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.completeCycles | Complete Cycles | Calculated result member: number. |
{
"input": {
"phaseCycles": -0.25
},
"output": {
"result": {
"fractionalCycle": 0.75,
"phaseDegrees": 270,
"completeCycles": -1
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- CompleteCycles uses floor, so negative fractions give a negative integer count and a positive fractional remainder. Phase is supplied, without wave fitting or ambiguity resolution.
- Outputs are nested inside result. Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Signed zero is exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Write the full wave convention, coordinate direction, and time origin before comparing phases. A signal-estimation task also needs actual sampled observations and an appropriate fitting method.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Wave Boundary Phase Inversion Flag
Classify the phase sign of a real amplitude reflection coefficient, retaining an explicit zero-reflection flag.
- Wave Phase Time Origin Sign
Phase offset after substituting old time = new time + supplied origin shift.