Wave Mechanics

Identification. Write T if it is a Transverse wave and L if it is a Longitudinal wave. Write the letter on the space provided.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
The wave equation
Given the wave function 𝑦(𝑥,𝑡), we can obtain the expression of the transverse velocity of any
particle in a transverse wave by taking the partial derivative of the function with respect to 𝑡,
keeping 𝑥 constant.

For wave function 𝑦(𝑥,𝑡)=𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑥), the transverse velocity is given by

For the transverse acceleration, take its second partial derivative to obtain

Manipulating equations above and using 𝜔=𝑣𝑘 we can derive the wave equation as:

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Speed of a transverse wave

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https://www.newshub.co.nz/

In this section we’ll see what determines the speed of propagation of one
particular kind of wave: transverse waves on a string.

The physical quantities that determine the speed of transverse waves on a string are the
tension in the string and its mass per unit length (also called linear mass density).

Increasing the tension should increase the restoring forces that tend to straighten the
string when it is disturbed, thus increasing the wave speed.

Increasing the mass of the string should make the motion more sluggish and decrease the speed.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Speed of a transverse wave

Speed of a transverse wave in a vibrating string is given by

where 𝑭 is the tensional force in the string and 𝝁 is the mass per unit length (𝜇=𝑚/𝐿).

Speed of a longitudinal wave in a solid bar is given by

where 𝒀 is the Young’s modulus (𝑌=𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠/𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛=(𝐹/𝐴)/(Δ𝐿/𝐿)) in unit Pascal (Pa) and 𝝆 is the
density of the solid.

Speed of a longitudinal wave in a vibrating fluid is given by

where 𝑩𝒂𝒅 is the adiabatic bulk modulus and 𝝆 is the density of the fluid.

Sound waves in gases

For an ideal gas, 𝑩_𝒂𝒅=𝜸𝒑 where 𝜸=𝑪_𝒑/𝑪_𝒗 is the dimensionless ratio of molar heat
capacities and 𝒑 is the absolute pressure.
At sea level, the absolute pressure at standard temperature and pressure is 1.013×10^5 𝑃𝑎.

Therefore, speed of sound in an ideal gas is given by

where 𝝆=𝒑𝑴/𝑹𝑻, 𝑹=𝟖.𝟑𝟏𝟒𝟓 𝑱/(𝒎𝒐𝒍.𝑲) is the universal gas constant, 𝑴=𝟐𝟖.𝟖 𝒈/𝒎𝒐𝒍 is the
molecular mass, 𝑻 is the absolute temperature, and 𝜸=𝟏.𝟒𝟎.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Speed of a transverse wave

A guitar string that is 2m long has a mass of

10g and is attached in such way that there's a
tension of 400N on it how fast will the wave
move as the player strung the guitar

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Speed of a transverse wave
One end of a 2.00-kg rope is tied to a support
at the top of a mine shaft 80.0 m deep (see
figure at the side). The rope is stretched taut by
a 20.0-kg box of rocks attached at the bottom.
(a) The geologist at the bottom of the shaft
signals to a colleague at the top by jerking the
rope sideways. What is the speed of a
transverse wave on the rope? (b) If a point on
the rope is in transverse SHM with ƒ = 2.00
Hz, how many cycles of the wave are there in
the rope’s length?

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Speed of a transverse wave
Calculate the speed of sound in air at (a) 0*C and (b) 27*C

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Energy in Wave Motion

The energy we receive from sunlight and

the destructive effects of ocean surf and
earthquakes bear this out.

From the property of a mechanical wave, energy is transported along the length of the vibrating
string and this instantaneous rate at which energy is transferred is referred to as Power and its
value is dependent on both position 𝑥 and time 𝑡 by

The maximum value of the instantaneous power 𝑃(𝑥,𝑡) occurs when the cos^2⁡𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 has the
value unity:

To obtain the average power from Eq. (1-12), we note that the average value of the cos^2
function, averaged over any whole number of cycles, is 1/2. Hence the average power is

The average rate of energy transfer is proportional to the square of the amplitude and to the
square of the frequency.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay

 Wave Mechanics
Energy in Wave Motion
Waves of wavelength 35 cm and amplitude 1.2 cm move along a 15-m string that has a mass of 80 g
and a tension of 12 N. Find the average power transmitted past a given point on the string.

Phys222 | Yana Tapay