Mechanical Waves
ripples in a pond seismic tremors musical sounds
WAVES
Waves can occur whenever a system is disturbed from equilibrium
and when the disturbance can travel, or propagate, from one
As a wave propagates, it carries energy.
region of the system to another.
Types of Waves
Mechanical Waves
is a disturbance that travels through some material or
substance called the medium for the wave
Electromagnetic Waves
can propagate even in empty space, where there is no
medium
Types of Mechanical Waves
Transverse Waves
the displacements of the particles of the medium are
perpendicular or transverse to the direction of travel of the wave
along the medium
Longitudinal Waves
the displacements of the particles of medium are parallel to the
direction of travel of the wave along the medium
Surface Waves
displacements of the water have both longitudinal and transverse
components https://gfycat.com/gifs/search/transverse+wave
This speed is called the speed of propagation,
in each case the disturbance travels or
1 propagates with a definite speed through or simply the wave speed (v).
the medium
Its value is determined by the mechanical
properties of the medium.
2
the medium itself does not travel through
space
to set any of these systems into motion, we
3 must put in energy by doing mechanical
Waves transport energy, but not matter,
work on the system from one region to another.
Periodic Waves
wave pulse periodic wave
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n_of_a_periodic_travelling_wave.gif
Periodic Waves
For a periodic wave, each particle of the medium undergoes periodic motion.
PERIODIC TRANSVERSE WAVE PERIODIC LONGITUDINAL WAVE
Periodic Waves
For a periodic wave, each particle of the medium undergoes periodic motion.
PERIODIC TRANSVERSE WAVE PERIODIC LONGITUDINAL WAVE
crest compression rarefaction
trough
Crest - maximum displacement or the Rarefaction - the region of reduced
highest point of the wave pattern density
Trough - minimum displacement or the Compression - the region of increased
lowest point of the wave pattern density
Periodic Waves
sinusoidal in nature
Amplitude (A)
the maximum displacement of the particles of the medium with
y respect to its equilibrium position
Wavelength (λ)
length of one complete cycle
𝐴 Period (T)
the time it takes to complete one wave cycle
x, t
Frequency (𝒇)
number of wave cycles passing through a given point per
unit time
𝜆 Wave speed (𝒗)
wavelength times frequency
Wave number (𝒌)
can be expressed as 𝑘=2𝜋 𝜆
Angular frequency
can be expressed as 𝝎 = 2𝜋𝑓
Mathematical Description of a Wave
The wave function, y(x,t), gives a mathematical
𝒚 description of a wave. In this function, y is the
displacement of a particle at time t and position x.
𝟏𝒎
The wave function for this sinusoidal wave moving in the
+x-direction
𝒙, 𝒕 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 – 𝑡)
𝟏𝒎 2𝒎
where,
𝑘 is the wave number
−𝟏 𝒎
𝜔 is the angular frequency
Mathematical Description of a Wave
In general,
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = ±𝐴 sin(𝑘𝑥 ∓ 𝜔𝑡) or 𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = ±𝐴 cos(𝑘𝑥 ∓ 𝜔𝑡)
𝒚 𝒚
𝟏𝒎 𝟏𝒎
𝒙, 𝒕 𝒙, 𝒕
-4 𝒎 -3 𝒎 -2 𝒎 -1 𝒎 1𝒎 2𝒎 3𝒎 -4 𝒎 -3 𝒎 -2 𝒎 -1 𝒎 1𝒎 2𝒎 3𝒎
−𝟏 𝒎 −𝟏 𝒎
+𝝎𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 − 𝒙 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
−𝝎𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 + 𝒙 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝟐𝝅 𝝎 𝝎
𝒗 = 𝝀𝒇 = =
𝒌 𝟐𝝅 𝒌
Particle velocity and acceleration of a sinusoidal
wave
Worked
Examples
PROBLEM 1
An electromagnetic vibrator send waves down a string. The vibrator makes
600 complete cycles in 5s. For one complete vibration, the wave moves a
distance of 20 cm. What are the frequency, wavelength and velocity of the
wave?
PROBLEM 2
A transverse wave on a taut string is modeled with the wave function
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.2𝑚 sin(6.28 𝑟𝑎𝑑Τ𝑚 𝒙 − 1.57 𝑟𝑎𝑑Τ𝑠 𝒕)
Find the amplitude, wavelength, period and speed of the wave.
PROBLEM 3
Transverse waves on a string have wave speed 8.00 m/s, amplitude 0.0700 m,
and wavelength 0.320 m. The waves travel in the -x-direction, and at t = 0 the
x = 0 end of the string has its maximum upward displacement. (a) Find the
frequency, period, and wave number of these waves. (b) Write a wave
function describing the wave. (c) Find the transverse displacement of a
particle at x = 0.360 m at time t = 0.150 s. (d) How much time must elapse
from the instant in part (c) until the particle at x = 0.360 m next has maximum
upward displacement?
PROBLEM 4
A wave on a string is described by 𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 . Find the the
transverse velocity and acceleration of the medium.
Exercise 1.1
Transverse waves on a string have speed of 8.00
m/s, amplitude 0.0700 m, and wavelength 0.320 m.
The waves travel in –x-direction, and at 𝑡 = 0 the
𝑥 = 0 end of the string has its maximum upward
displacement.
Find the wave number k, angular frequency 𝝎, and
write a wave function describing the wave.
Sample Problem 1.1 (Page 6)
▪A transverse wave on the string has a wave speed of
12.0 m/s, amplitude 0.0500 m, and wavelength 0.400
m.
▪The waves travel in the +x-direction, and at 𝑡 = 0, the
𝑥 = 0 end of the string has zero displacement and is
moving upward.
(a) Find the frequency f, period T, wave number k,
angular frequency 𝜔.
Sample Problem 1.1 (Page 6)
(b) Write a wave function describing the
wave.
(c) Find the transverse displacement of a
point at 𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝒎 at time 𝒕 =
𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝒔.
Speed of a Transverse Wave
For transverse waves on a string,
𝐹𝑇
𝑣=
𝜇
where,
𝑭𝑻 is the tension on the string
𝝁 is the linear mass density or the mass per unit length (𝑚Τ𝑙 )
of the string
The six strings of a guitar are the same
length and under nearly the same tension,
but they have different thicknesses. On
which string do waves travel the fastest?
Quick Quiz (i) the thickest string;
(ii) the thinnest string;
(iii) the wave speed is the same on all strings.
Remarkably, it turns out that for many types of mechanical
waves, including waves on a string, the expression for wave
speed has the same general form:
𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒎
𝒗=
𝑰𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒎
Energy in Wave Motion
Energy in Wave Motion
𝜔 = 𝑣𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣 2 = 𝐹/ 𝜇. ,
Wave Intensity
Four identical strings each carry a sinusoidal
wave of frequency 10 Hz. The string tension
and wave amplitude are different for different
strings. Rank the following strings in order
from highest to lowest value of the average
Quick Quiz
wave power:
(i) tension 10 N, amplitude 1.0 mm;
(ii) tension 40 N, amplitude 1.0 mm;
(iii) tension 10 N, amplitude 4.0 mm;
(iv) tension 20 N, amplitude 2.0 mm.
Wave Interference, Boundary
Conditions, and Superposition
REFLECTION
Free End
Fixed End
REFLECTION
and
TRANSMISSION
Thin to Thick
Thick to Thin
INTERFERENCE
INTERFERENCE
The Principle of Superposition
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑦1 𝑥, 𝑡 + 𝑦2 𝑥, 𝑡
Standing Waves on a String
Nodes – points of total destructive
inter ference; points at which the
string never moves
Antinodes - points of total constructive
inter ference; points at which the
amplitude of the string motion is
greatest
Standing Waves on a String
Standing Waves on a String
Standing Waves on a String
Normal Modes of a String
A normal mode of an oscillating system is a motion in
which all particles of the system move sinusoidally with the
same frequency.
Normal Modes of a String
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Worked
Examples
PROBLEM 6
With what tension must a rope with length 2.50 m and mass 0.120 kg be
stretched for transverse waves of frequency 40.0 Hz to have a wavelength of
0.750 m?
PROBLEM 7
A simple harmonic oscillator at the point x = 0 generates a wave on a rope.
The oscillator operates at a frequency of 40.0 Hz and with an amplitude of
3.00 cm. The rope has a linear mass density of 50.0 g/m and is stretched with
a tension of 5.00 N. (a) Determine the speed of the wave. (b) Find the
wavelength. (c) Write the wave function y (x, t) for the wave. Assume that the
oscillator has its maximum upward displacement at time t = O. (d) Find the
maximum transverse acceleration of points on the rope.
PROBLEM 7
PROBLEM 8
A piano wire with mass 3.00 g and length 80.0 cm is stretched with a tension
of 25.0 N. A wave with frequency 120.0 Hz and amplitude 1.6 mm travels
along the wire. (a) Calculate the average power carried by the wave. (b) What
happens to the average power if the wave amplitude is halved?
PROBLEM 8
PROBLEM 9
By measurement you determine that sound waves are spreading out equally in
all directions from a point source and that the intensity is 0.026 W/m2 at a
distance of 4.3 m from the source. (a) What is the intensity at a distance of 3.1
m from the source? (b) How much sound energy does the source emit in one
hour if its power output remains constant?
PROBLEM 10
The wave function of a standing wave is 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) = 4.44 𝑚𝑚 sin[(32.5 𝑟𝑎𝑑/
𝑚)𝑥] sin[(754𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠)𝑡]. For the two traveling waves that make up this
standing wave, find the (a) amplitude; (b) wavelength; (c) frequency; (d) wave
speed; (e) wave functions. (f) From the information given, can you determine
which harmonic this is? Explain.
PROBLEM 10
PROBLEM 11
One string of a certain musical instrument is 75.0 cm long and has a mass of
8.75 g. It is being played in a room where the speed of sound is 344 m/s. (a)
To what tension must you adjust the string so that, when vibrating in its
second overtone, it produces sound of wavelength 3.35 cm? (b) What
frequency sound does this string produce in its fundamental mode of
vibration?
PROBLEM 11
