Chapter

15
Waves

Any Picture you think it can

represent this chapter

1
 Outline
15.1 WAVE
DERIVATION OF MOTION
WAVE EQUATION

Chapter
15.4 15.2
(15)

COUPLED
OSCILLATORS
15.3

MATHEMATICAL
DESCRIPTION OF WAVES

2
 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

1- Define waves.
2- Classify waves according to medium and propagation.
3- Differentiate between different wave types.
4- Apply the wave equations with different examples.

3
 Waves

A wave is an excitation that propagates through space or some medium

as a function of time but does not generally transport matter with it.

According to 1- Electromagnetic waves

Waves medium 2- Mechanical waves

classification
According to 1- Transverse waves

propagation 2- Longitudinal waves

4
 Waves

Types of waves according to medium:

(1) Electromagnetic waves (light, radio waves, microwaves, X-ray…..) do not
need a medium in which to propagate. They can move through empty space
(vacuum).

(2) Mechanical waves (sound wave, water wave….) need a medium in which to
propagate.

➢ Many examples of waves surround us in everyday life.

• Light energy moving from the computer screen to your eye moves as light
waves.

• Sound energy moving from a radio to your ear moves as sound waves.

➢ In this chapter, we will study the mechanical waves .

5
 Coupled Oscillators

Types of waves according to propagation:

(1) Transverse Waves:

■ Move in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which

the oscillators move.

■ Travel through a medium in the form of crests and troughs.

Crest Crest Crest

The up-and- down motion of Trough Trough Trough

the rope is perpendicular to
the direction of the wave. Direction of wave

6
 Coupled Oscillators

Type of waves according to propagation:

(2) Longitudinal waves:

▪ Propagate along the direction in which the oscillators move.

▪ Travel through a medium in the form of compression and rarefaction.

7
 Mechanical Description of Waves

A wave can be represented as a function of position (x) and time (t).

The figure represents a wave function.

We can write the mathematical description of a sinusoidal wave as

𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + ∅0 )
Vertical
position
Phase difference
Amplitude Angular frequency
Wave number

8
 Mechanical Description of Waves
A number of parameters can be defined to describe a periodic wave:
■ The amplitude A :
✓ Is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from the equilibrium
position in units of 𝑐𝑚 or 𝑚 .
▪ The wavelength λ :
✓ Is the length of one oscillation.
✓ It is the distance between two identical adjacent points in a wave, such as two
adjacent crests or troughs in a waveform (in units of 𝑐𝑚 or 𝑚).
■ The wave number k :
✓ Is the number of wavelengths that fit in a distance of 2π (in units of rad/cm or
2𝜋
rad/m). 𝑘=
λ

9
 Mechanical Description of Waves

The period T :
✓ Is the time of one oscillations (in units of s).
✓ It is the time between two identical adjacent points in a wave, such as two
adjacent crests or troughs in a waveform (in units of 𝑠).

The frequency f :
✓ Is the number of oscillations per second in the wave in units of 𝑠 −1 or 𝐻𝑧 .
1
𝑓=
𝑇

The angular frequency ω :

✓ counts the number of oscillations in each time interval of 2π (in units of rad/s).
2𝜋
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 = 𝑇

t
10
 Mechanical Description of Waves

The velocity of a wave 𝒗 :

✓ it is measured by (m/s).
∆𝒙 λ
𝒗= = = λf
∆𝒕 𝑻

𝟐𝝅 𝝎 𝝎
𝒗 = λf = =
𝑲 𝟐𝝅 𝑲
Phase difference ∅𝟎 :
✓ Is used to describe the difference in degrees or radians when two or more
alternating quantities reach their maximum or zero values.

Phase ∅ :
✓ it is measured by (rad).
✓ Is given by
11
 Mechanical Description of Waves

Notice that :

A sin(+ kx – ωt + ϕ0) represents a wave that travels in the positive x-

direction, as the signs of the (kx) and (ωt) terms are opposite.

A sin(+ kx + ωt + ϕ0) represents a wave that travels in the negative x-

direction, as the signs of the (kx) and (ωt) terms are the same.

12
Sample problem 15.1

■ A wave on a string is given by:

𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.002𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 78.8 𝑥 + 346 𝑡
𝑚 𝑠

where y and x are in meters and t is in seconds.

a) What are the angular frequency and the wave number of this wave?
b) What is the amplitude?
c) What is the velocity of this wave?
d) What is the wavelength of this wave?
e) What is its period?
f) In which direction does the wave travel?
g) What is the phase difference?
h) What is the phase at (x = 2.3 × 10-3 m and t = 2.1 s)?
13
Sample problem 15.1

SKETCH
■ The sketch shows the wave function t and x.

Research
■ Look at the given wave function:
𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.002 𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 78.8 𝑥 + 346 𝑡
𝑚 𝑠
■ Comparing with a wave traveling in the negative x-direction
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴 sin(𝑘𝑥 + 𝜔𝑡 + ∅0 )
14
Sample problem 15.1

SOLUTION:
By comparison we can find:
a) The angular frequency and the wave number:
ω = 346 rad/s k = 78.7 rad/m

b) The amplitude A= 0.002 m

We can then find:
c) the velocity of the wavefrom:
𝜔 346
𝑣= = = 4.4 𝑚/𝑠
𝑘 78.7
d) the wavelength from the wave number:
2𝜋 2𝜋
λ= 𝑘 = 78.7 = 0.08 𝑚

e) the period from the angular frequency:

2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑇= = = 0.012 s
𝜔 346
15
Sample problem 15.1

SOLUTION:

f) The wave traveling in the negative x-direction ➔ as the signs of the

(kx) and (ωt) terms are the same.

g) the phase difference of this wavefrom is:

∅0 = 0
h) the phase at (x = 2.3 × 10-3 m and t = 2.1 s) is found from:

∅ = 𝑘𝑥 + 𝜔𝑡 + ∅0
∅ = (78.8 x 0.0023) + (346 x 2.1) +0=726.8 rad

16
 Sample problem 15.1

Double-check
■ To double-check our work, we look at our sketch:
T

■ We see that the wavelength is approximately 0.08 m, in agreement with

our result.
■ We also see that the period is approximately 0.018 s, also in agreement
with our result.

17
Concept check

■ Which of the following waves is traveling in the

positive x-direction?

A. y(x,t) = (−0.002 m) sin[(78.8 m-1)x +(346 s-1)t]

B. y(x,t) = (0.002 m) sin[(78.8 m-1)x + (346 s-1)t − 1]

C. y(x,t) = (−0.002 m) sin[(−78.8 m-1)x + (346 s-1)t]

D. y(x,t) = (0.002 m) sin[(−78.8 m-1) + (346 s-1)]

18
Concept check

■ Which of the following waves is traveling in the

positive x-direction?

A. y(x,t) = (−0.002 m) sin[(78.8 m-1)x + (346 s-1)t]

B. y(x,t) = (0.002 m) sin[(78.8 m-1)x + (346 s-1)t − 1]

C. y(x,t) = (−0.002 m) sin[(−78.8 m-1)x + (346 s-1)t]

D. y(x,t) = (0.002 m) sin[(−78.8 m-1) + (346 s-1)]

19
 Derivation of the wave equation

Waves on a String
■ String instruments form a large class of musical instruments.
■ Suppose a string has a mass M, a length L and a radius r.
𝑀
■ 𝜇= = 𝜌𝐴 = 𝜌(𝜋𝑟 2 )
𝐿

Where:
𝜇 is the linear mass density (kg/m)
𝜌 is the density (kg/m3)
A is the cross section area, (𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔) (m2)
■ We can get the wave velocity on a string in terms of the tension:
𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇
𝑣= =
𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝜇

■ Some implications of this equation are:

– Increasing μ reduces v.
– Increasing F increases v. 20
 Example 15.1

Elevator Cable

38 Kg
61 m
■ An elevator repairman (mass 73 kg) sits on top
of an elevator cabin of mass 655 kg inside a shaft of
a skyscraper.
■ The cabin is suspended by a 61 m long steel cable
of mass 38 kg. 655 Kg
■ He sends a signal to his colleague at the top
of the elevator shaft by tapping the cable with his hammer.
Find

a) The linear mass density.

b) The velocity of the wave on the string.
c) How long will it take for the wave pulse generated by the hammer tap to travel
up the cable?

21
 Example 15.1

SOLUTION:
T
■ The tension in the cable from the weight of the elevator + man is:

38 Kg
61 m
T = Fg

■ The linear mass density of the steel cable is: 73 655

■ The wave speed is: Fg= mg

■ The pulse travels up the 61 m long cable in:

22
Extra Exercise
A copper wire has a density of ρ = 8920 kg/m3, a diameter of 2.40 mm, and a
length L. The wire is held under a tension of 10.00 N. Transverse waves are sent
down the wire.
(a) What is the linear mass density of the wire?
(b) What is the speed of the waves through the wire?

23
Extra Exercise
A copper wire has a density of ρ = 8920 kg/m3, a diameter of 2.40 mm, and a
length L. The wire is held under a tension of 10.00 N. Transverse waves are sent
down the wire.
(a) What is the linear mass density of the wire?
(b) What is the speed of the waves through the wire?

SOLUTION:
a) Diameter = 2𝑟
2.4
𝑟= = 1.2 𝑚𝑚
2
𝑟 = 1.2 x10−3 𝑚

𝜇 = 𝜌 𝜋𝑟 2 = 8920 x 3.14 x (1.2 x 10−3 )2 = 0.04 kg/m

𝑇 10
b) v = = = 15.8 m/s
𝜇 0.04

24
Extra Exercise

When the horn on a ship is sounded, the passengers hear an echo from a
cliff after 4s. If the speed of sound is 340 m/s, how far away is the cliff?
A) 170 m
B) 340 m
C) 680 m
D) 1360 m

25
Extra Exercise

When the horn on a ship is sounded, the passengers hear an echo from a
cliff after 4s. If the speed of sound is 340 m/s, how far away is the cliff?
A) 170 m
B) 340 m
C) 680 m
D) 1360 m

SOLUTION:
As its an Echo, it is meaning the sound wave has traveled double the distance:

2𝑑
v=
𝑡

𝑉𝑡 340 𝑋 4
𝑑= = = 680 m
2 2

26
The END
OF
CHAPTER
(15)
27