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The fundamental concepts of traveling waves in physics, discussing their difference from particles, and providing an overview of mechanical, electromagnetic, and matter waves. It also introduces the concepts of transverse and longitudinal waves, and covers one-dimensional waves in detail.
Typology: Study notes
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Types of waves
Graphs
Displacement function
medium: substance wave moves thru’, elastic, restoring force brings back to equilibrium e.g. tension in string, gravity for waves in water
disturbance: displacement from equilibrium as wave passes (organized motion cf. random motion of thermal energy)
wave speed (v): disturbance travels outward from source, energy (but not material) transferred
Transverse waves (particles move perpendicular to direction of wave: e.g. string) vs. Longitudinal waves (...parallel...e.g. chain of masses connected by springs)
Apply Newton’s laws to particles of medium e.g. forces on segment of string: wave speed depends only on material of medium
Waves on a string:
“Snapshot” graph
History graph sequence Longitudinal Waves: ∆x^ vs.^ x function of two variables: t (when) and x (which point of wave)
