UG Physics PH1101
Dr. Abhijit Bisoi
Department of Physics
IIEST Shibpur
Ph: 9830629051
Syllabus
• Waves: (a) Differential equation of plane waves and its harmonic solution, wave group
and group velocity (taking a group of two waves).
• (b) differential equation of transverse wave and its velocity along a stretched string,
solution of the equation by separation of variables, application to stretched string
rigidly fixed at two ends, vibrating string as stationary wave, the eigen values, eigen
functions and eigen frequencies, energy of vibrating string.
Reference Books:
1. D. P. Raychaudhuri - Advanced Acoustics, The New Book Stall, (1980)
Wave
A wave is a disturbance moving through a medium.
Inertia and elasticity of the medium
Vibration of string
Electromagnetic wave
Sound wave
X-ray
Gamma ray
Wave of different kind
Longitudinal wave
Example: Sound wave
Transverse wave
Example: Vibration of string
Characteristic of a periodic wave of constant type
Time displacement curve Space displacement curve or wave form
Time displacement curve Space displacement curve
Displacement
Displacement
Time Position
x1, t1 x2, t2
Concept of phase velocity
Displacement
Vp = (x2-x1) / (t2-t1)
Position
Wave front
A surface at all points of which the phase of the particles is same at any instant is called
a wave front.
Analytical representation of a plan progressive wave
Ψ = wave field parameter
ΨX,0 = f(X) = f (x-ct) = Ψx,t
Any function of (x-ct) or (ct-x) represents a plane progressive wave moving in the positive
direction.
(ct+x) for the negative direction
Differential wave equation for a plane wave in one dimension
The Plane harmonic wave
Stationary or standing waves
When two progressive waves of same frequency moving in the opposite
direction in a medium are superimposed. It produced Stationary or standing
waves.
This type of motion occurs when the medium is limited in extent.
The outgoing waves are reflected at the boundary, and the incident and
reflected wave system by their superimposition form the stationary wave
pattern. 0.6
0.3
Displacement
Y1= 5*sin(30*20 - 0.001*x)
+5*sin(30*20 + 0.001*x) 0.0
Y2= 5*sin(30*20.1047 - 0.001*x)
-0.3
+5*sin(30*20.1047 + 0.001*x)
-0.6
5000 10000
Position
Waves of equal amplitude
Node position Positions where the amplitude of displacement is zero, are called
displacement nodes
0.6
0.3
Displacement
0.0
N N
-0.3
-0.6
5000 10000
Position
Antinode position Positions where the amplitude of displacement is maximum, are
called displacement antinodes.
Amplitude: 2a cos kx
When cos kx = ± 1, the amplitude is a maximum and has the value 2a.
For this, we must have
Distance between two
successive nodes or antinodes 0.6
is λ/2. A A A
Distance between a node 0.3
and its nearest antinode is λ/4.
Displacement
The section between two 0.0
neighboring nodes is called
loop. N
-0.3
N
Neighboring loops are
vibrating in the opposite
phase. -0.6
5000 10000
Position
Effect of sinωt ω k
Y1= 5*sin(30*t - 0.001*x) + 5*sin(30*t +0.001*x)
t=1.727 t=1.7801 t=1.8318 t=1.8848
15
10
Displacement
-5
-10
-15
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Position
Waves of different amplitude
ω k
Y1= 10*sin(30*t - 0.001*x) + 5*sin(30*t +0.001*x)
t=1.727 t=1.7801 t=1.8318 t=1.8848
15
10
Displacement
-5
-10
-15
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Position
