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Wave Mechanics 1

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium without transferring matter. There are two types of mechanical waves: transverse waves where particles vibrate perpendicular to the wave propagation, and longitudinal waves where particles vibrate parallel to propagation. Examples of waves include sound waves which are longitudinal waves in air, and waves on a string which can be transverse waves. The document then provides examples of solving wave problems involving speed, frequency, wavelength, and generating wave functions.

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Deaniel
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72 views8 pages

Wave Mechanics 1

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium without transferring matter. There are two types of mechanical waves: transverse waves where particles vibrate perpendicular to the wave propagation, and longitudinal waves where particles vibrate parallel to propagation. Examples of waves include sound waves which are longitudinal waves in air, and waves on a string which can be transverse waves. The document then provides examples of solving wave problems involving speed, frequency, wavelength, and generating wave functions.

Uploaded by

Deaniel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wave Mechanics

What is wave?
a disturbance that carries energy and momentum from one location to another
without a transfer of matter.
a wave is created by a source and typically needs a medium to travel through

examples: ripples in water and sound waves


waves of light and radiation are not mechanical waves

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Properties of mechanical waves

1. Transverse wave - where the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicularly to


the direction of propagation of the wave disturbance.

2. Longitudinal wave - where the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the
direction of propagation of the wave disturbance

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Example 1
Sound waves are longitudinal waves in air. The speed of sound depends on
temperature; at 20°C it is 344 m/s. What is the wavelength of a sound wave in air
at 20°C if the frequency is 262 Hz (the approximate frequency of middle C on a
piano)?

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Sinusoidal Wave

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Sinusoidal Wave

Transverse waves on a string have speed 8.00 𝑚/𝑠, amplitude 0.0700 𝑚, and
wavelength 0.320 𝑚. The waves travel in −𝑥-direction, and at 𝑡=0, 𝑥=0, the end of
the string has its maximum upward displacement. Find the (a) wave number 𝑘, (b)
angular velocity 𝜔 and (c) write a wave function describing the wave.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Sinusoidal Wave

What would be the wave function of a sinusoidal wave moving 20m/s


at time 2s where the x component is 0? Note that as you pause the time,
the maximum displacement is 0.1m and its wavelength is at 2m.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay


Phys222 | Yana Tapay
Phys222 | Yana Tapay

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