The document discusses the equations and principles of plane progressive waves, including their displacement, speed, and the principle of superposition. It explains how waves reflect at boundaries, detailing the differences between rigid and open boundaries, and introduces the concept of standing waves formed by the superposition of two waves traveling in opposite directions. Key equations and relationships between wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and phase are also presented.
The document discusses the equations and principles of plane progressive waves, including their displacement, speed, and the principle of superposition. It explains how waves reflect at boundaries, detailing the differences between rigid and open boundaries, and introduces the concept of standing waves formed by the superposition of two waves traveling in opposite directions. Key equations and relationships between wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and phase are also presented.
The document discusses the equations and principles of plane progressive waves, including their displacement, speed, and the principle of superposition. It explains how waves reflect at boundaries, detailing the differences between rigid and open boundaries, and introduces the concept of standing waves formed by the superposition of two waves traveling in opposite directions. Key equations and relationships between wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and phase are also presented.
The document discusses the equations and principles of plane progressive waves, including their displacement, speed, and the principle of superposition. It explains how waves reflect at boundaries, detailing the differences between rigid and open boundaries, and introduces the concept of standing waves formed by the superposition of two waves traveling in opposite directions. Key equations and relationships between wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and phase are also presented.
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Waves-2
Equation of a plane progressive wave
Displacement of a particle at O, at any
instant t,
y(0,t)= a sin ωt …(1)
(where a is amplitude &ω is angular frequency) Since successive particles vibrate about their mean positions later than the origin there is a continuous phase difference among them. If Φ is the phase lag of the particle P with respect to origin O then displacement of particle P at the same time t is
y(x,t)= a sin (ωt-Φ) ….(2) where x=OP= distance of P from the origin O.
Now for a distance equal to λ(wave length) ,phase changes by an angle 2π. 2π Therefore for a distance x , phase change Φ = x……………….(3) λ
2π Putting (3) in (2) y(x,t)= a sin (ωt- x) λ
2π Putting ω= in the above equation we get, T
2π 2π y(x,t)= a sin ( t- x) …(4) T λ
2π λ λ Or y(x,t)= a sin ( t- x) But =v=wave velocity λ T T
2π y(x,t)= a sin (vt- x) ……(5) λ
which is the equation of a plane progressive simple harmonic wave travelling
along +x axis.
If the wave is travelling along –x axis then
2π y(x,t)= a sin (vt+ x) ……(6) λ
If ∅ 0 is the initial phase then equation (5) and (6) respectively become
y(x,t)= a sin ¿ (vt- x)+∅ 0]……(7)
y(x,t)= a sin ¿ (vt- x)-∅ 0]…….(8)
2π 2π 2π Also (vt± x) = vt± x λ λ λ
2π 2π = t± x because v/λ =i.e frequency=1/T T λ
= ωt ± kxbecause ω=2π/T i.e angular frequency
2π Where k= is called propagation constant or angular wave number and is λ measured in rad/m.
Equations (7) and (8) can be written as
y(x,t)= a sin(ωt ± kx+∅ 0)……(9)
Speed of a travelling wave
Suppose a transverse wave is travelling in a string in +x direction
The initial phase
∅ 0 is taken as zero. During a small interval of time t , the wave moves by a x dx distance x along the +x direction. Therefore the speed of the wave, v= lim = ∆t→0 t dt
From equation (9)y(x,t)= a sin(ωt-kx)
Now phase, ωt–kx = constant…(10)
To keep phase constant if t increases , x must also increase.
Differentiating (10) with respect to time,
d (ωt–kx)=0 dt d orω – k x=0 dt
ω- kv=0
ω Or v= …….(11) k
2π Putting ω=2πandk= we get v=λ λ
Speed of a progressive wave depends on the properties of the medium like
elasticity and density.
THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION OF WAVES
When a number of waves simultaneously meet at a point in a medium, the netdisplacement at a given time is the algebraic sum of thedisplacements due to each waveat that time. Consider two waves having the same angularfrequency ω=2π/T, same angular wave number k=2π/λ (same wavelength) and the same amplitude a, are travelling in the positive direction of x-axis,with the same speed. If they are out of phase by angle Φ,then their equations can be written as
α +β α −β = a¿] Usingsin α +sin β=2 sin cos 2 2
Considering α=kx – ωt + Φ and β=kx−ωt
∅ = acos ¿] 2 Superposition Principle is not applicable if amplitude of mechanical wave is too large(e.g shock waves in earthquake)
REFLECTION OF WAVES
When a pulse or a travelling wave encounters a rigid boundary thepulse or the
wave gets reflected. Example of the reflection of sound waves froma rigid boundary is the phenomenon of echo.If the boundary is not completely rigid or isan interface between two different elastic media, a part of the wave is reflectedand a part is transmitted intothe second medium. If a wave is incident obliquely on theboundary between twodifferent media thetransmitted wave is called therefracted wave. The incidentand refracted waves obeySnell’s law of refraction, andthe incident and reflectedwaves obey the usual laws ofreflection. Consider a string is fixed to the wall at its left end. When the pulse arrives at thatend, it exerts an upward force on the wall. ByNewton’s third law, the wall exerts an oppositeforce of equal magnitude on the string. Thissecond force generates a pulse at the support(the wall), which travels back along the stringin the direction opposite to that of the incidentpulse. In a reflection of this kind, there must beno displacement at the support as the string isfixed there. The reflected and incident pulsesmust have opposite signs, so as to cancel eachother at that point. Thus, in case of a travellingwave, the reflection at a rigid boundary will takeplace with a phase reversal or with a phasedifference of πor 1800.
Consider the string is fastened to aring, which slides without friction on a rod. Inthis case, when the pulse arrives at the left end,the ring moves up the rod. As the ring moves, itpulls on the string, stretching the string andproducing a reflected pulse with the same signand amplitude as the incident pulse. Thus, insuch a reflection, the incident and reflectedpulses reinforce each other, creating themaximum displacement at the end of the string:the maximum displacement of the ring is twicethe amplitude of either of the pulses. Thus, thereflection is without any additional phase shift.
A travelling wave, at a rigid boundary or
a closed end, is reflected with a phase reversal but the reflection at an open boundary takes place without any phase change. Mathematically, let the incident travelling wave be
then, for reflection at a rigid boundary the reflected
wave is represented by,
For reflection at an open boundary, the reflected wave is represented by
Standing Waves or Stationary Waves: When 2 progressive waves of same type
(either longitudinal or transverse) having same amplitude and same frequency are travelling at the same speed along the same line but in opposite direction superimpose stationary waves are formed. The resultant wave does not propagate in any direction nor there is any transfer of energy in the medium.
