MISN-0-201 PS-1

MISN-0-201 PS-2

4. A function y(x) consists of: (1) a straight line that increases from
PROBLEM SUPPLEMENT its value of zero at position (x0 − A) to its maximum value of M at
position x0 ; then (2) another straight line from this maximum value
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f Problems 8, 9, and 10 also occur in this module’s Model Exam.
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Note: of M to be the value zero at position (x0 + A). Everywhere else, y(x)
is zero. Thus the function is a triangle in the x-y plane joining points
(x0 − A, 0), (x0 , M ) and (x0 + A, 0).
1. Given the function:
a. Sketch the function y(x).
ξ(x, t) = A1 cos k1 (x + vt) − A2 sin k2 (x − vt) .
b. Sketch the function y(x + A).
Determine whether this a solution to the wave equation, Help: [S-1] c. Sketch the function y(x − 2A).

∂2ξ ∂2ξ 5. Show that ξ = ξ0 sin(kx−ωt) may be written in the alternative forms:
v2 2
= 2.
∂x ∂t
a. ξ = ξ0 sin[k(x − vt)]
h ³x ´i
2. Let ξ(x, t) = A sin(ωt + kx + φ0 ) where φ0 is the phase constant. This b. ξ = ξ0 sin ω −t
wave is traveling in the negative x-direction at the speed of sound in v
h ³x ´i
air, 330 m/s. c. ξ = ξ0 sin 2π − νt
λ
· µ ¶¸
a. Determine whether ξ(x, t) satisfies the wave equation quoted in x t
d. ξ = ξ0 sin 2π −
Problem 1. λ T
b. If A = 6.0 cm, ξ(0, 0) = 5.196 cm and 6. A one-dimensional sinusoidal wave, of wavelength 2 m, travels along
¯ the x-axis (in the positive x-direction). If its amplitude is 0.5 m and
˙ 0) ≡ ∂ξ ¯
¯
ξ(0, = 0 = +94.2 m/s , it has a period of T = 0.5 s:
∂t ¯xt = 0
a. Write down an appropriate wave function to represent this wave.
find φ0 , ω, k, T , ν, and λ.
b. If the displacement of the wave is 0.2 m at x = 0, t = 0, and
c. Sketch ξ(x) at t = 0. ˙ 0) = +5.76 m/s, find the phase constant.
ξ(0,
3. A certain one-dimensional wave is observed at a certain instant of 7. A one-dimensional sinusoidal wave moves along the x-axis. The dis-
time to be described by: placement at two points, x1 = 0 and x2 = 2.0 cm, is observed as a
function of time:
ξ(x, t1 ) = (1.3 m) sin[(1.2 m−1 )x + 16π]
ξ(x1 , t) = (0.02 cm) sin[(3π s−1 )t]
and 12 seconds later by: π
ξ(x2 , t) = (0.02 cm) sin[(3π s−1 )t + ]
2
ξ(x, t1 + 12 s) = (1.3 m) sin[(1.2 m−1 )x + 28π].
a. What are the amplitude, frequency, and wavelength of this wave?
Determine this wave’s: (a) amplitude; (b) wavelength; (c) frequency Help: [S-10]
(in hertz); (d) speed; and (e) direction of travel. b. In which direction and with what speed does the wave travel?
8. Verify whether or not each of the following functions is a solution to
the one-dimensional wave equation:

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MISN-0-201 PS-3
MISN-0-201 PS-4

a. ξ = ξ0 cos(πt)
T = 2 × 10−3 s
b. ξ = ξ0 sin M (x + 4vt) where M is a constant
ν = 500 Hz
c. ξ = Y (x − vt)
λ = 0.66 m
9. A one-dimensional sinusoidal wave is traveling along the x-axis in the c. ξ(x, t) at t = 0:
negative x-direction. It can be represented by:
x(x,t)
2π
ξ(x, t) = A cos[ F (x, t)].
λ
5.196
The wave’s frequency is 10 Hz and its wavelength is λ. Write down
an appropriate function F (x, t) which gives this wave the properties
listed above.

10. The displacements at two points in space are observed as a wave ξ(x, t)
passes by. At the points x1 = 0.5 m and x2 = 2.5 m the displacement
from equilibrium is observed as a function of time. These are found t=0
to be: ξ(0.5 m, t) = (1.5 × 10−4 m) sin[(6π s−1 )t]
ξ(2.5 m, t) = (1.5 × 10−4 m) sin[(6π s−1 )t + 2π/3]
a. What is the amplitude of this wave? 3. A wave described at two times:
b. What is the frequency of this wave in hertz? a. A = 1.3 m Help: [S-5]
c. What is the wavelength? b. λ = 5.24 m Help: [S-6]
d. What is the speed with which this wave travels? c. ν = 0.50 Hz Help: [S-4]
e. What way is the wave traveling? d. v = 2.62 m s−1 Help: [S-7]
f. What is the time rate of displacement at the point x1 at times e. −x̂ direction Help: [S-8]
t = 0 and t = 0.25 s?
4. y(x0 ) is the maximum value of y(x).
a. y(x) has its maximum value when x = x0 :
Brief Answers:
M
1. Yes Help: [S-1]
2. A traveling wave: y(x)
a. Yes, if ω 2 = v 2 k 2 (see Problem 1).
b. φ0 = π/3 radians = 60◦ Help: [S-3]
x 0-A x0 x 0+A
ω = 3.14 × 103 s−1 Help: [S-2]
k = 9.5 m−1 b. y(x + A) has its maximum value when x + A = x0 :

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MISN-0-201 PS-5 MISN-0-201 PS-6

b. 3 Hz
M
c. 6 m
d. 18 m/s.
y(x+A)
e. Toward the negative x-direction
f. 9π × 10−4 m/s and zero respectively.
x 0-2A x 0-A x0

c. y(x − 2A) has its maximum value when x − 2A = x0 : MISN-0-201 AS-1

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE SUPPLEMENT

y(x-2A)

S-1 (from PS-Problem 1)

x 0+A x 0+2A x 0+3A Taking the appropriate partial derivatives,
∂ξ
5. k = ω/v; kv = ω; (ω/v) = (2π/λ); ω = 2πν; ν = 1/T . = −k1 vA1 sin [k1 (x + vt)] + k2 vA2 cos [k2 (x − vt)]
∂t
∂2ξ
6. Determining the functional form. ⇒ 2 = −k12 v 2 A1 cos [k1 (x + vt)] + k22 v 2 A2 sin [k2 (x − vt)]
£¡ ¢ ¡ ¢ ¤ ∂t
a. ξ = (0.5 m) sin π m−1 x − 4π s−1 t + φ0 , ∂ξ
= −k1 A1 sin [k1 (x + vt)] − k2 A2 cos [k2 (x − vt)]
or ∂x
∂2ξ
−k12 A1 cos [k1 (x + vt)] + k22 A2 sin [k2 (x − vt)]
£¡ ¢ ¡ ¢ ¤
ξ = (0.5 m) cos π m−1 x − 4π s−1 t + φ0 . ⇒ =
∂x2
b. φ0 = 156.4◦ if the sine function is used;
φ0 = 66.4◦ if the cosine function is used. Help: [S-9] Comparing the two equations marked ⇒, it is clear that v 2 times the
lower one equals the upper one. Thus ξ is a solution to the wave equa-
7. A wave specified at two times: tion. However, if the velocity v in the two terms had not been the same,
ξ would not have been a solution. Note that the first term represents a
a. A = 0.02 cm; ν = 1.5 /s; λ = 8.0 cm Help: [S-10]
wave of amplitude A1 and wavelength 2π/k1 traveling to the left, while
b. The wave moves in the negative x direction with speed v = 12 cm/s. the second term represents a wave of amplitude A2 and wavelength
2π/k2 traveling to the right. These two waves are traveling through the
8. Only (c) satisfies this equation.
same space points at the same time.
9. F (x, t) = x + (10 Hz)λt
10. Displacements at two points: S-2 (from PS-Problem 2b)
˙ 0)
ξ(0, 94.2 m/s
a. 1.5 × 10−4 m ω= =
A cos φ0 (6.0 cm)(1/2)

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MISN-0-201 AS-2 MISN-0-201 AS-3

S-3 (from PS-Problem 2b) S-8 (from PS-Problem 3e)

ξ(0, 0) = A sin(0 + 0 + φ0 ) = A sin φ0 = 5.196 cm Read and understand this module’s text.
ξ(0, 0) 5.196
sin φ0 = = = 0.866,
A 6.0 S-9 (from PS-Problem 6b)
so: φ0 = sin (0.866) = 60◦ (π/3 radians) or 120◦ (2π/3 radians)
−1
Note 1: −203.6◦ is just as good an answer as 156.4◦ .
˙ 0) must be used:
To choose the correct value of φ0 , information from ξ(0, Note 2: Electronic calculators face an ambiguity in giving an answer
˙ t) ≡ ∂ξ/∂t = ωA cos(kx + ωt + φ0 )
ξ(x, for an inverse trigonometric function. For example, sin(5.74◦ ) =
˙ 0) = ωA cos φ0 = +94.2 m/s
ξ(0, sin(174.26◦ ) = 0.1. Therefore sin−1 (0.1) could be either 5.74◦ or
174.26◦ : both are valid mathematical answers to the inverse sine prob-
cos π/3 = +1/2, cos(2π/3) = −1/2.
lem, taken in isolation. You must decide which is the right answer by
˙ 0), ω, and A are all positive, cos φ0 must be positive as well,
Since ξ(0, examining other aspects of the problem at hand.
so 2π/3 is rejected as a possible value for φ0 , i.e. φ0 = π/3.

S-10 (from PS-Problem 7)

S-4 (from PS-Problem 3c)
· ¸ Compare to the general form of the wave equation to get:
∆x ∆t (2π/λ)∆x = ∆φ ⇒ λ = 2π(2.0 cm)/(π/2)
Rule: ∆(phase) = 2π ± .
λ T
For this case,
phase #1= (1.2 m−1 )x + 16π
phase #2= (1.2 m−1 )x + 28π
∆(phase) = 12π µ ¶
∆t
but ∆x = 0, hence: 2π = 12π, and ∆t = 12 s.
T

S-5 (from PS-Problem 3a)

Just look at either ξ(x, t1 ) or ξ(x, t2 ).

S-6 (from PS-Problem 3b)

See Problem 1. λ = 2π/(1.2 m−1 ).

S-7 (from PS-Problem 3d)

Compare to the general form of the wave equation to get:
kv∆t = ∆φ ⇒ v = 12π/(1.2 m−1 12 s)

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