Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

MODULE IN ES 112e
PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

Engr. Felix S. Licas

Associate Professor IV
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department
 Lesson 17: Wave Motion

Introduction:
Wave motion is a common phenomenon. Waves are produced in all forms of matter and
even in empty space where ordinary matter does not exist.
Wave motion is some sort of periodic displacement of an elastic medium from its normal
position. The layers of the medium oscillate about some equilibrium point. Due to the elasticity
of the medium the periodic disturbance created is transmitted from layer to layer and the wave
progress. The medium as a whole, does not move, but transmitted from layer to layer.

Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, one should be able to:
1. Determine and understand the kinds of Waves in Matter.
2. Distinguish between the addition of simple waves to that of complex waves.
3. How to formulate the velocity of compressional waves.
4. Discuss the velocity of sound in air.
5. Determine the transverse waves in strings.

Kinds of Waves in Matter.

1. Transverse wave
2. Longitudinal or compressional wave.
3. Torsional wave.

1. Transverse wave is one from of wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate in a
direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Examples are water
waves, light waves and waves in stretched string.

See attached figure 1

The part ab of the wave is called the crest and the part bc is the trough.

2. Longitudinal or Compressional Wave is another form of wave in which the particles

vibrate to and fro parallel to the line of propagation. Example are sound waves, waves
in rods and in a vibrating helical spring. The portion (a’b’) is called the condensation and
the portion b’c’ is called the rare faction where the particles vibrate opposite the
direction of propagation.

Note:
1. One crest and one trough constitute a wave length
2. A wave length is the distance between two successive points in a wave train having the
same phase of vibration, that is successive points having the same displacement from
the mean position.

3. Torsional Wave.
 Is a kind of wave that is produced in a rod subjected to torsion.
With these waves differ in form they all agree in two respect:
1. The particles vibrate about a mean position
2. The wave travels in the medium through the communication of energy due to the
elastic property of the medium.

Fundamental Wave Motion.

Simple harmonic wave is a kind of wave motion in which the vibration period is constant or the
rate is uniform.

Where:
v velocity of wave motion
f is wave of frequency or vibration per second
ʎ the time required for a complete wave to pass a point
t is the time required
T is the reciprocal of the frequency f, T = 1/f

Formula:

v=fʎ=ʎ/T

Addition of Simple Wave

Where:
y is the displacement of a point in a wave
y = r sin θ

Formula

y = r sin (θ + ϗ )
y = r sin (w t + ϗ)
y = r sin (2Ԯft + ϗ)
y = r sin (2Ԯ t /T + ϗ)

See Attached figure A

Complex Waves
When a number of waves of different frequencies are travelling in a medium, the
resultant wave maybe obtained graphically by superposition. This means that the different
waves are plotted with their corresponding amplitudes and phase angles with reference to a set
of axes and the ordinates at any instant are added algebraically. Waves having added and has a
resultant are called a complex wave.

Harmonics are waves whose frequencies are in the integral ratios 1:2:3:4:5.

Odd Harmonics are waves whose ratios are 1:3:5:7.

Velocity of compressional Wave
They are waves that are defined as waves in which particles vibrate to and fro parallel
to the line of propagation. Examples; sound waves in liquids, solid and gasses are
compressional waves.

Formula:

1. Liquids: v = square root of M/d

2. Solid; v = square root of E/d

Where:
M = E are modulus of elasticity
D = density of objects.

v = square root of M/d (liquid)

v = square root of E/d (solid)

For liquids, have only bulk modulus (B) or volume elasticity, so the velocity is given by

v = square root of B/d

In the case of gases, the bulk modulus is identical to pressure.

Where: B = kP

Thus, v = square root of kP/d

Table Units in compressional Wave

Units Modulus (E,B,P) Density (d) Velocity (v)
C.G.S. dynes/cm² gm/cm³ cm/sec
M.K.S. newtons/m² kg/m³ m/sec
English (absolute) poundal/ft² lb/ft³ Ft/sec

Velocity of sound in Air

Air in standard condition has a pressure of 76 cm of Hg and density of 0.001293
gm/cm³.

Where the formula is;

v = square of kP/d = square root of (1.4 x (76x13.6x980)/0.001293))

= 33,160 cm/sec or nearly 332 m/sec or about 1090 ft/sec

v = (332 + 0.6t) m/sec

v = 33200 + 60t) cm/sec
v = (1090 + 2t) ft/sec.

Velocity of sound in a gas is proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature that is:
 v1/v2 = square root of T1/T2.

Transverse Waves in Strings

When a string or cord is stretched between two supports and a blow is struck at one
end, a transverse wave will be propagated through out its length, and if a blow is struck
continuously the waves set up will be reflected back and forth at the support. These waves are
called standing or stationary waves. They do not get out of the string, but their energy is
communicated to the surrounding medium so that its vibration may be heard as sound.
Stationary waves are also produced in air columns in pipes, tuning forks, in antenna by
oscillating electrical charges, and others.

Formula:

V = square root of T/m

Where; T is string and m is a mass

Laws of Vibrating Strings (see attached figures)

Solved Exercises

1. The period of vibration of a pork is 1/256 sec. what is the length of the wave if the
velocity of the wave is 34,000 cm per sec. (fundamental wave concept)

Solution:

f = 1/T – 256 cycles or v.p.s

ʎ = v/f = 34,000 / 256 = 132.8 cm.

2. The equations of two sine waves of the same frequency are: y = 20 sin wt and y = 30
sin (wt +Ԯ/3). Determine the amplitude and the phase angle of the resultant wave; give
its equation. (adition of simple waves)

Solution:

r = square root of (30)² + (20)² + 2(30)(20) cos 60

= 43.5

Tan ϗ = 30 sin 60/(20+(30 cos 60) = 25.98/35 = 0.741

ϗ = 36.5 degree

3. How fast does sound travel in steel? (velocity of compressional wave)

Solution;
E = 20 x 10 ¹¹ dynes/cm³
 d = 7.8 gm/cm³

v = square root of E/d = square root of 20x10¹¹ / 7.8 = 5.05 x 10 ⁵ cm/sec

= 5050 m/sec

4. What is the speed of sound in water? (velocity in compressional waves)

Solution:

B = 2.2 x 10¹° dynes/cm³; d = 1 gm/cm³

v = square root of B/d = square root of 2.2 x 10¹° / 1 = 1.48 x 10 ⁵ cm/sec.

5. A note has a frequency of 420 vps. What is the wave length in air if temperature is 20°
C?

Solution:

v1 = v + 0.60t = 332 + 0.6(20) = 344 m/sec or 33400 cm/sec

ʎ = v / f = 34400/420 = 81 cm

6. Compare the speeds of sound in a gas of 20° and 50° C. (velocity of sound in a gas)

Solution:

V1/v2 = square root of T1/T2 = square root of (273 + 50) / (273 + 20)
= square root of 323 / 293
= 1.052

7. A string 2 meters along weighs 2 gm and is stretched with a tension of 30 gm. What is
the velocity of a transverse wave in the string? (transverse waves in strength)

Solution.

v = square root of T/m; T = 30 x 980 dynes; m = 2/200 = 0.01 gm/cm.

v = square root of 30x980 / 0.01 = 1720 cm/sec.

8. A rope 6 ft. long weighs 0.5 lb. A blow on the rope produces a transverse wave. If the
tension is 10 lb., what is the velocity of the wave?

Solution.

v = square root of T/m = 10 x 32 = 320 poundals;

m = 0.5/6 = 0.083 lb / ft.
 v = square root of 320/0.083 = 62.5 ft/sec.

9. If the strings is 150 cm long, weighs 1 gm and vibrates in three segments when one end
is attached to a tuning fork, what is frequency of the fork if the tension of the string is
300 gm? What is the fundamental vibration of the string when vibrated as a whole?

Solution.

f = S/2L square root of T/m; T = 300 x 980 dynes; m = 1/150 gm/cm

(a) f1 = 3/2(50) square root (300x980)/(1/150) = 66.50 vps

(b) f2 = 1/3f1 = 23.17 vps

10. The equation of two sine waves of the same frequency are: y = 20 sin wt and y1= 30
sin(wt+Ԯ/3). Determine the amplitude and the phase angle of the resultant wave; give
its equation. (complex wave)

Solution.

r = square root of (30)² +(20)² + 2(30)(20) cos 60 = 43.5

tan ϗ = 30 sin 60 / (20 + 30 cos 60 = 25.98/35 = 0.741

ϗ = 36.50 degrees

The equation of the resultant wave is

Y1 = 43.5 sin (wt + 36.5)

REFERENCES:
1. College Physics – Physics Committee, Far Eastern University, 2000, Jollence E.
Publishing, Novaliches, Quezon City
2. College Physics – A Committee on Physics, Royal Publishing House INC, Quezon
City, Philippines, copyright 1962

SUGGESTED READINGS:
1. Wolfgang, Bauer & Gary D. Westfall, University Physics with Modern Physics, 2011
2. Giuseppe Grosso/ Giuseppe Pastori Parravicini, Solid State Physics, 2012
3. Alan Giambattista/ Betty & R.C. Richardson, College Physics W/ An Integrated
Approach To Forces And Kinematics, 4th Ed., 2013
4. Kaat Turkewich, editor, Materials Physics & Chemistry, 2015
5. Minoru Watanabe, et al. contributor, Physics of Liquid Crystal, 2016
6. Reyes & Crisostomo, Physics Laboratory Manual in Electricity, Magnetism And
Optics, 2006

Prepared by
Engr. Felix S. Licas
Associate Professor IV
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department