Propagation of a disturbance Analysis Model: Traveling Wave

Speed of waves in strings

Central feature to wave motion: energy is

transferred over a distance, but matter is not.

Types of waves:
◦ Mechanical waves - water waves, sound waves and
seismic waves. Governed by Newton’s laws. Only exist in
material mediums.
◦ Electromagnetic waves – infrared - visible - ultraviolet
light, radio and TV waves, microwaves, x-rays and radar
waves. Requires no material medium to exist.
◦ Matter waves - electrons, protons, atoms, molecules and
other fundamental particles.

2
Section 16.0

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All mechanical waves require:
◦ Some source of disturbance
◦ Medium containing elements that can
be disturbed
◦ A physical mechanism through which
elements of the medium can influence
each other.

Flick one end of a taut
string that is fixed at
the other end.

Pulse
◦ Hand is the source of disturbance
◦ String is the medium
◦ Elements of the string are connected.

3
Section 16.1

Transverse Waves: Displacement of

each particle is perpendicular to
direction in which wave is traveling

Longitudinal Waves: Particles are displaced in the

same direction as wave motion.

4
Section 16.1

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Let us consider a line of people waiting to go into a
stadium to watch a soccer match. As one person is
allowed to enter a gap is created in the front of the
line is quickly filled by the person second in the
line. This gap then moves through the line. Is the
propagation of this gap transverse or longitudinal?

Consider now inside the stadium. A “Mexican wave”

starts moving around as people stand and raise
their arms as the pulse arrives and then sit down
again. Is this pulse transverse or longitudinal?

5
Section 16.1

Pulse travelling to the right along a

string.

Shape and position of pulse at t = 0
y(x,0) = f(x)

Speed of the pulse v, moved a distance
vt at the time t.

Shape of pulse does not change.

An element of the string at x at time t
has the same y position as an element
at x – vt at t = 0.

y( x, t ) = y( x − vt,0)
y( x, t ) = f ( x − vt ) traveling to the right
y( x, t ) = f ( x + vt ) traveling to the left
6
Section 16.1

3

Wave function: y(x,t)

Wave form: Snapshot at a certain t.

Consider particle at point P as time

passes. Starts at y = 0, increases to
max, then returns to zero.

7
Section 16.1

Work through the problem

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Sinusoidal Wave: Can be set up in a string.

An important wave function

Brown curve: t = 0

Blue curve: t

Wave moves to the right

If we focus on an element of
the medium – element moves up
and down

Important to differentiate between
the motion of the wave and the motion of the
elements of the medium.

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Section 16.2

Top figure: Traveling wave through

medium y vs x
◦ Crest
◦ Trough
◦ Wavelength – λ

Bottom figure: position of an element

as a function of time y vs t
◦ Period – T
1
◦ Frequency – f =
T
◦ Amplitude – A

10
Section 16.2

5
 y( x, t ) = A sin( kx − ω t )

Amplitude A : maximum displacement from the position of
rest. For transverse wave, transverse displacement y

phase ≡ (kx - ωt)

Wavelength λ : distance between repetitions of the wave
shape.
2π

Angular wave number: k ≡ (rad/m)
λ

Period: time between repetitions of the motion

Angular frequency (rad/s) ω ≡ 2π
T
1 ω

Frequency (Hz) : f = =
T 2π

Wave speed: ω
v=λf =
k
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Section 16.2

General form for a wave function

y( x, t ) = A sin( kx − ω t + φ )

φ is the phase constant – takes into consideration

when the wave does not start at y = 0 at t = 0.

12
Section 16.2

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1 pulse vs series of pulses

A wave

SHM of the arm

Snapshots of the wave at intervals of
T/4

13
Section 16.2

1 pulse vs series of pulses

A wave

SHM of the arm

Snapshots of the wave at intervals of
T/4

Each element of string – SHM

BUT wave moves to the right +x
direction with a speed v.

At t = 0 – configuration of string (a)
y( x, t ) = A sin( kx − ω t )

14
Section 16.2

7
 y( x, t ) = A sin( kx − ω t )

This expression describes motion of

an element on the string

Point P x-co-ordinate is constant.

Transverse speed (not wave speed):
dy ∂y
vy = = = −ω A cos ( kx − ωt )
dt x =constant ∂t

Transverse acceleration:
dv y ∂v y
ay = = = −ω 2 A sin ( kx − ωt )
dt x =constant ∂t

v y,max = ω A a y,max = ω 2 A

15
Section 16.2

Here are the equations for 3 waves:

(1) y ( x, t ) = 2sin ( 4 x − 2t )
(2) y ( x, t ) = sin ( 3x − 4t )
(3) y ( x, t ) = 2sin ( 3x − 3t )
Rank the waves according to their (a) wave speed and
(b) maximum speed of an element of the medium
perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave
(transverse speed).

ω dy
v= vtrans = = ω ym cos ( kx − ωt )
k dt
= vm cos ( kx − ωt )

16

8
 Here are the equations for 3 waves:
(1) y ( x, t ) = 2sin ( 4 x − 2t )
(2) y ( x, t ) = sin ( 3x − 4t )
(3) y ( x, t ) = 2sin ( 3x − 3t )
Rank the waves according to their (a) wave speed and
(b) maximum speed of an element of the medium
perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave
(transverse speed). (Assume SI units)
dy
ω 2 vtrans = = ω ym cos ( kx − ωt )
v= v = = ½ m/s
1 dt
k 4
= vm cos ( kx − ωt )
4
v2 = = 1.33i m/s
3 ω1 ym = 4 m/s
3
v3 = = 1 m/s ω2 ym = 4 m/s
3
ω3 ym = 6 m/s 17

The equation of a transverse wave on a string is

(
y = ( 2.0 mm ) sin ( 20 m−1 ) x − ( 600 s−1 ) t )
What is the amplitude, the frequency, the wavelength
and the velocity of the wave?

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9
The waves in a microwave oven are described by
cos ( 50.3 x − 15.1t ) , where t is measured in ns and x in m.

Show that f = 2.4 GHz, λ = 12.5 cm and

v = 3.0 × 108 m/s.

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The rest of the chapter is very interesting, but

due to time constraints, we will not be
covering this during the course. Please take
the time to read the following sections in the
chapter, even if it is after the exams.

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