Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
For the travelling harmonic wave
y (x, t) = 2.0 cos 2π (10t – 0.0080x + 0.35)
Where x and y are in cm and t in s. Calculate the phase difference between oscillatory motion of two points separated by a distance of `(3λ)/4`.
Advertisements
Solution 1
Equation for a travelling harmonic wave is given as:
y (x, t) = 2.0 cos 2π (10t – 0.0080x + 0.35)
= 2.0 cos (20πt – 0.016πx + 0.70 π)
Where,
Propagation constant, k = 0.0160 π
Amplitude, a = 2 cm
Angular frequency, ω= 20 π rad/s
Phase difference is given by the relation:
`phi = kx = (2pi)/lambda`
For `x = (3lambda)/4`
`phi = (2pi)/lambda xx (3lambda)/4`
`= 1.5 pi` rad
Solution 2
The given equation can be drawn be rewritten as under
y(x, t) `= 2.0 cos [2pi (10"t" - 0.0080x) + 2pi xx 0.35]`
or y(x, t) `= 2.0 cos [2pi xx 0.0080((10"t")/0.0080 - x) + 0.7pi]`
Comparing this equation with the standard equation of a travelling harmonic wave.
`(2pi)/lambda = 2pi xx 0.0080` or `lambda = 1/0.0080 "cm" = 125` cm
The phase difference between oscillatory motion of two points seperated by a distance `trianglex` is given by
`trianglephi = (2pi)/lambda trianglex`
When `trianglex = (3lambda)/4 = (3xx125)/4` cm, then
`triangle phi = (2phi)/125 xx (3xx125)/4`
`= (3pi)/2 "rad"`
RELATED QUESTIONS
You have learnt that a travelling wave in one dimension is represented by a function y= f (x, t)where x and t must appear in the combination x – v t or x + v t, i.e. y = f (x ± v t). Is the converse true? Examine if the following functions for y can possibly represent a travelling wave:
(a) `(x – vt )^2`
(b) `log [(x + vt)/x_0]`
(c) `1/(x + vt)`
A train, standing at the outer signal of a railway station blows a whistle of frequency 400 Hz in still air. (i) What is the frequency of the whistle for a platform observer when the train (a) approaches the platform with a speed of 10 m s–1, (b) recedes from the platform with a speed of 10 m s–1? (ii) What is the speed of sound in each case? The speed of sound in still air can be taken as 340 m s–1.
Show that the particle speed can never be equal to the wave speed in a sine wave if the amplitude is less than wavelength divided by 2π.
A sine wave is travelling in a medium. A particular particle has zero displacement at a certain instant. The particle closest to it having zero displacement is at a distance
Velocity of sound in air is 332 m s−1. Its velocity in vacuum will be
A wave pulse, travelling on a two-piece string, gets partially reflected and partially transmitted at the junction. The reflected wave is inverted in shape as compared to the incident one. If the incident wave has wavelength λ and the transmitted wave λ'
Two wires A and B, having identical geometrical construction, are stretched from their natural length by small but equal amount. The Young modules of the wires are YA and YB whereas the densities are \[\rho_A \text{ and } \rho_B\]. It is given that YA > YB and \[\rho_A > \rho_B\]. A transverse signal started at one end takes a time t1 to reach the other end for A and t2 for B.
The equation of a wave travelling on a string stretched along the X-axis is given by
\[y = A e {}^- \left( \frac{x}{a} + \frac{t}{T} \right)^2 .\]
(a) Write the dimensions of A, a and T. (b) Find the wave speed. (c) In which direction is the wave travelling? (d) Where is the maximum of the pulse located at t = T? At t = 2 T?
A wave pulse is travelling on a string with a speed \[\nu\] towards the positive X-axis. The shape of the string at t = 0 is given by g(x) = Asin(x/a), where A and a are constants. (a) What are the dimensions of A and a ? (b) Write the equation of the wave for a general time t, if the wave speed is \[\nu\].
A wave propagates on a string in the positive x-direction at a velocity \[\nu\] \[t = t_0\] is given by \[g\left( x, t_0 \right) = A \sin \left( x/a \right)\]. Write the wave equation for a general time t.
A wave travels along the positive x-direction with a speed of 20 m s−1. The amplitude of the wave is 0⋅20 cm and the wavelength 2⋅0 cm. (a) Write the suitable wave equation which describes this wave. (b) What is the displacement and velocity of the particle at x= 2⋅0 cm at time t = 0 according to the wave equation written? Can you get different values of this quantity if the wave equation is written in a different fashion?
A wave travelling on a string at a speed of 10 m s−1 causes each particle of the string to oscillate with a time period of 20 ms. (a) What is the wavelength of the wave? (b) If the displacement of a particle of 1⋅5 mm at a certain instant, what will be the displacement of a particle 10 cm away from it at the same instant?
A travelling wave is produced on a long horizontal string by vibrating an end up and down sinusoidally. The amplitude of vibration is 1⋅0 and the displacement becomes zero 200 times per second. The linear mass density of the string is 0⋅10 kg m−1 and it is kept under a tension of 90 N. (a) Find the speed and the wavelength of the wave. (b) Assume that the wave moves in the positive x-direction and at t = 0, the end x = 0 is at its positive extreme position. Write the wave equation. (c) Find the velocity and acceleration of the particle at x = 50 cm at time t = 10 ms.
A 200 Hz wave with amplitude 1 mm travels on a long string of linear mass density 6 g m−1 kept under a tension of 60 N. (a) Find the average power transmitted across a given point on the string. (b) Find the total energy associated with the wave in a 2⋅0 m long portion of the string.
The equation for the vibration of a string, fixed at both ends vibrating in its third harmonic, is given by
\[y = \left( 0 \cdot 4 cm \right) \sin\left[ \left( 0 \cdot 314 {cm}^{- 1} \right) x \right] \cos \left[ \left( 600\pi s^{- 1} \right) t \right]\]
(a) What is the frequency of vibration? (b) What are the positions of the nodes? (c) What is the length of the string? (d) What is the wavelength and the speed of two travelling waves that can interfere to give this vibration?
Following figure shows a string stretched by a block going over a pulley. The string vibrates in its tenth harmonic in unison with a particular tuning for. When a beaker containing water is brought under the block so that the block is completely dipped into the beaker, the string vibrates in its eleventh harmonic. Find the density of the material of the block.

Speed of sound wave in air ______.
Given below are some functions of x and t to represent the displacement of an elastic wave.
- y = 5 cos (4x) sin (20t)
- y = 4 sin (5x – t/2) + 3 cos (5x – t/2)
- y = 10 cos [(252 – 250) πt] cos [(252 + 250)πt]
- y = 100 cos (100πt + 0.5x)
State which of these represent
- a travelling wave along –x direction
- a stationary wave
- beats
- a travelling wave along +x direction.
Given reasons for your answers.
The displacement y of a particle in a medium can be expressed as, y = `10^-6sin(100t + 20x + pi/4)` m where t is in second and x in meter. The speed of the wave is ______.
