Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Wave Motion
16.1 Propagation of a disturbance
16.2 The travelling wave model
16.3 The speed of waves on a
string
16.4 Reflection and transmission
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Propagation of a disturbance
All mechanical waves require:
some source of disturbance
a medium through which the wave can propagate
a physical mechanism through which the elements
of the medium can influence each other
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At t = 0:
The displacement y, at any position x, is given
by
2
y A sin x
where A = amplitude of wave (units: m),
= wavelength of wave (units: m)
At a later time t:
Displacement of point P at x
= displacement of P at x + vt
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Period:
The wave travels a distance in the time t = T
where T constitutes the wave’s period
Hence v , and we may therefore write
T
x vt x t
y A sin 2 A sin 2
T
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A = 15 cm
λ = 40 cm
a) Calculate the wave number, period, angular
frequency and speed of the wave
2 2 rad
k = 0.157 rad/cm
40 cm
1 1
T = 0.125 s
f 8
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T (derivation not
v required)
Note:
A large T implies a large v
A large signifies a small v
The equation is valid for any shape of the pulse
Classwork Example 1
8.35 m/s
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Light-to-heavy string:
• Reflected pulse inverted
• 180° phase shift
• Transmitted pulse slower
Heavy-to-light string:
• Reflected pulse upright
• No phase shift
• Transmitted pulse faster