HOMEWORK #2

1. The equation of a transverse wave traveling along a very long string is

𝑦 = 6.0 sin(0.020𝜋𝑥 + 4.0𝜋𝑡)
where 𝑥 is in centimeters and 𝑡 is in seconds. Determine:
(a). The amplitude
(b). The wavelength
(c). The frequency
(d). The speed
(e). The direction of propagation of the wave
(f). What is the transverse displacement at 𝑥 = 3.5 𝑐𝑚 when 𝑡 = 0.26 𝑠?
2. Ocean waves of wavelength 100 𝑚 have a speed of 6.2 𝑚/𝑠; ocean waves of wavelength 20 𝑚
have a speed of 2.8 𝑚⁄𝑠. Suppose that a sudden storm at sea generates waves of all
wavelengths. The long-wavelength waves travel faster and reach the coast first. A fisherman
standing on the coast first notices the arrival of 100 𝑚 waves; 10 hours later he notices the
arrival of 20 𝑚 waves. How far is the storm from the coast?
3. Sinusoidal waves 5.00 𝑐𝑚 in amplitude are to be transmitted along a string that has a linear
mass density of 4.00 × 10−2 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚. The source can deliver a maximum power of 300 𝑊, and
the string is under a tension of 100 𝑁. What is the highest frequency 𝑓 at which the source can
operate?
4. The wave function for a wave on a taut string is
𝜋
𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) = 0.350 sin (10𝜋𝑡 − 3𝜋𝑥 + )
4
where 𝑥 and 𝑦 are in meters and 𝑡 is in seconds. If the linear mass density of the string is
75.0 𝑔/𝑚,
(a). What is the average rate at which energy is transmitted along the string?
(b). What is the energy contained in each cycle of the wave?
5. A wave pulse on a string has the dimension shown in the figure. The wave speed is 5.0 𝑚/𝑠.
(a). If point 𝑂 is a fixed end, draw the total wave
on the string at 𝑡 = 1.0 𝑚𝑠, 2.0 𝑚𝑠, 3.0 𝑚𝑠,
4.0 𝑚𝑠, 5.0 𝑚𝑠, 6.0 𝑚𝑠, and 7.0 𝑚𝑠
(b). Repeat part (a) for the case in which point 𝑂
is free end.

WAVE |GEOPHYSICS UI