Chapter 16: Wave Motion
From Textbook “Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with Modern Physics)”,
PHYV101 Slides by Dr. David Waswa Serway & Jewett, Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishers 1
After this section you should be able to...
a) Define a wave
b) Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves
c) Define:
i. Amplitude
ii. Wavelength
iii. Period
iv. Frequency
v. wave number
vi. angular frequency
d) Know the physical meaning of all the terms contained in the expression describing a moving
wave
e) Obtain expressions for the transverse velocity and acceleration of a harmonic wave
f) Derive an expression for the speed of a wave in a stretched string
g) Describe the results when a wave pulse is reflected/transmitted at a boundary
h) Derive an expression which predicts the rate of energy transfer by a harmonic wave in a
stretched string, and to describe which factors play an important role in the energy transfer
i) Solve problems on the above
Introduction
Many of us experienced waves as children when we dropped a pebble into a pond.
At the point the pebble hits the water’s surface, circular waves are created.
Examine carefully the motion of a small object floating on the disturbed water
Object moves vertically and horizontally about its original position
but
The object does not undergo any net displacement away from or toward the point at
which the pebble hit the water.
What is a wave?
A disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location without a net movement
of particles.
Types of wave
Mechanical waves : Water waves, heat waves, sound waves etc.
Electromagnetic waves: Light waves, radio waves etc
Note: We shall only study only mechanical waves.
Transverse and longitudinal waves
Transverse Wave - The movement of the particles of the medium is
perpendicular (at a right angle) to the direction of propagation of the wave
Longitudinal Wave - The movement of the particles of the medium is in the
same direction as the direction of propagation of the wave
A − Amplitude (m)
λ − wavelength (m)
T − Period (s)
Wave Function
The speed of the wave as it propagates
along the string. It is constant
Substitute for v in the above equation
Wave function shows the periodic nature of y
! # %& %&
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 2𝜋 "
−$ = 𝐴 sin "
𝑥 − $ 𝑡
𝑥 𝑡
2𝜋 𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑘= 𝜆 𝑇
𝜆
%& %&
%&
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin "
𝑥 − $
𝑡
𝜔= $
= 2𝜋f
%&
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑥 − 2𝜋𝑓𝑡
"
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
'
The wave speed v, can be given as 𝑣= = 𝜆𝑓
(
𝑦
If 𝑦 ≠ 0 at x = 0 and t = 0, then
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙 𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
Where 𝜙 is the phase constant 𝑡
Substitute A = 15.0 cm, y = 15.0 cm, x = 0, and t = 0
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙
𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
Transverse velocity and
acceleration of a particle
on the string
Maximum Transverse velocity
and acceleration
The speed v is constant for a uniform medium, whereas vy varies sinusoidally.
ü A short element of the string, of length ∆ s, forms an
approximate arc of a circle of radius R as shown in the
magnified view in Figure 16.11b.
ü The element of the string moves to the left with speed v.
ü As it travels through the arc, we can model the element as a
particle in uniform circular motion.
𝑣!
The element has a centripetal acceleration of =
𝑅
The centripetal acceleration is due to the = 2𝑇 sin 𝜃
components of the tension, T
Note: The horizontal components of T cancel
The magnitude of the total radial force is 𝐹" = 2𝑇 sin 𝜃 = 2𝑇𝜃
The element of the string has mass 𝑚 = 𝜇∆𝑠
where 𝜇 is the mass per unit length of the string
Then
The magnitude of the total radial force is
Solving for v gives
Do not confuse the T for the tension with the symbol T used in this chapter for the period of a wave.
The traveling wave model explains waves moving through a consistent medium without any
interaction. However, we explore the impact of traveling wave encountering a change in the medium,
such as a pulse traveling on a string attached to a support at one end.
✐ Consider a pulse traveling on a string that is rigidly attached to
a support at one end
✐ When the pulse reaches the fixed end of the string, the string
produces an upward force on the support
✐ By Newton’s third law, the support must exert an equal-
magnitude and oppositely directed (downward) reaction force on
the string
✐ This downward force causes the pulse to be inverted upon
reflection
Next, consider a pulse traveling on a string that is loosely
attached to a support at one end
The tension at the free end is maintained because the string is
tied to a ring of negligible mass that is free to slide vertically on
a smooth post without friction.
Again, the pulse is reflected, but this time it is not inverted.
When it reaches the post, the pulse exerts a force on the free
end of the string, causing the ring to accelerate upward. The
ring rises as high as the incoming pulse, and then the
downward component of the tension force pulls the ring back
down.
This movement of the ring produces a reflected pulse that is
not inverted and that has the same amplitude as the incoming
pulse.
Pulse traveling in different medium
The following general rules apply to reflected waves:
ü When a wave or pulse travels from medium A to medium B and 𝑣! > 𝑣" (that is, when B is denser than A),
it is inverted upon reflection.
ü When a wave or pulse travels from medium A to medium B and 𝑣! < 𝑣" (that is, when A is denser than B),
it is not inverted upon reflection.
Waves transport energy through a medium as they propagate
♞ Suppose an object is hanging on a stretched string and a pulse is
sent down the string as in Figure 16.17a.
♞ When the pulse meets the suspended object, the object is
momentarily displaced upward as in Figure 16.17b
♞ During this process, energy is transferred to the object, leading to
an increase in the gravitational potential energy of the object.
❖ Consider an infinitesimal element of the string of length dx and
mass dm. Each such element oscillates vertically.
❖ We can model each element of the string as a particle in simple
harmonic motion, with the oscillation in the y direction
kinetic energy
The kinetic energy K associated with a moving particle is
1
𝐾= 𝑚𝑣 #
2
kinetic energy dK associated with the motion of element dm
where vy is the transverse speed of the element
Remember 𝑚 = 𝜇∆𝑠
If 𝜇 is the mass per unit length, and given that then change in KE is
Given that
Then
At t=0
Total KE of all the elements of string in one wavelength 𝜆 is given Remember
by !#
1. 𝑘 =
$
2. cos 2𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ! 𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛! 𝜃
= 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ! 𝜃 − 1
% %
⟹ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ! 𝑘𝑥 = + cos 2𝑘𝑥
! !
Potential energy
A similar analysis to that above for the total potential energy 𝑈$ in one wavelength gives the
same result:
Total energy
The total energy in one wavelength of the wave is
The power P, or rate of energy transfer associated with the mechanical wave, is
1 # #
𝐸$ 2 𝜇𝜔 𝐴 𝜆 1 # # 𝜆
𝑃= = = 𝜇𝜔 𝐴
Δ𝑡 𝑇 2 𝑇
1 Remember
𝑃 = 𝜇𝜔# 𝐴# 𝑣 𝜆
2 𝑣=
𝑇
The rate of energy transfer in any sinusoidal wave is proportional to
1. the square of the angular frequency
2. the square of the amplitude
