CHAPTER 10 Mechanical Waves

Question 10.1
y / mm
10

P Q
0.2 0.4 0.6

S
0.8 1.0

T
1.2 1.4

x / cm

10

The graph above shows the displacement of the particles in a transverse progressive wave against the distance from the source at a particular instant. (a) Write down the points where the speed of the particles is zero. (b) Write down all the points where the acceleration of the particles is maximum. (c) Write down the points where the velocity of the particles is opposite to each other. (d) Write down the points where the particles are in phase. (e) State the amplitude and wave length of the wave. (f) If the time required to complete one cycle is 0.25 s, what is the speed of the wave? Solution 10.1 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) P and R P and R Q and S or S and T Q and T Amplitude = 10 mm, wave length = 0.8 cm V = f 1 = T 1 V = ()(0.8) 0.25 = 3.2 m s1

Question 10.2 A wave is moving through a medium with a speed of 250 m s1. The frequency of the wave is 1 250 Hz. (a) What is the wavelength of the wave? (b) Find the distance between two points which are out of phase by 120 in the medium. Solution 10.2 (a) V = f 250 = 1 250 = 0.20 m 41

(b)

2 = X 360 120 = X 0.20 X = 0.067 m

Question 10.3 A plane progressive wave in a medium is represented by the equation y = 0.025 sin (120t 20x) where y and x are measured in metres (m) and t is in seconds. Calculate (a) the frequency, (b) the wavelength, (c) the speed of the wave and (d) the maximum speed of a particle in the medium. Solution 10.3 Compare y = 0.025 sin (120t 20x) 2 with y = y0 sin (t x) (a) but 120 f = = = = 120 2f 2(3.142)f 19.1 Hz

(b)

2 20 = = 0.314 m or 31.4 cm

(c) V = f = (19.1)(0.314) m s1 = 6.0 m s1 (d) For the vibrating particle V = Y 0 = (120)(0.025) = 3.0 m s1

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Question 10.4 A transverse wave in a medium has a frequency of 1 250 Hz and velocity of 300 m s1. Calculate (a) the angular frequency, of the particles, (b) the value of the wave number and (c) the separation between the two points which are out of phase by 60. Solution 10.4 (a) = 2f = 2(1 250) = 7.855 rad s1 2 K = Using v = f 2 Hence K = 0.24 K = 26.2 m1 2 (c) Using = X 60 = 3 2 = X 3 0.24 X = = m 6 6 = 0.04 m Question 10.5 Two waves Y1 = Y0 sin (t KX ) Y2 = Y0 sin (t KX) Superimpose to produce a resultant wave represented by the equation Y = 0.4 sin (20t 5.0X 0.8) where Y and X are in cm and t in seconds. Calculate (a) the wave length, (b) the speed, (c) the phase difference between the two waves, and (d) the amplitude of the two waves Y0. Solution 10.5 Y = Y1 + Y2 = Y0 sin (t KX ) + Y0 sin (t KX) 1 1 = Y0[2 sin (t KX + t KX) cos (t KX t + KX)] 2 2 = 2Y0[sin (t KX ) cos ( )] 2 2 1 Y = 2Y0 cos sin (t KX ) 2 2 300 = (1 250) = 0.24 m

(b)

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Compare equation 1 with Y = 0.4 sin (20t 5.0X 0.8) (a) K = 5.0 2 but K = cm1 2 5.0 = = 1.26 cm (b) = but = 20 = f = v = 20 2f 2 f 3.18 s1 f = (3.18)(1.26) cm s1 = 4.01 cm s1

(c)

= 0.8 2 = 1.6 rad

(d) 2Y0 cos = 0.4 cm 2 Y0 = 0.29 cm

Question 10.6 Two transverse progressive waves with equal amplitude, wavelength and frequency but moving in opposite directions superimpose to produce a resultant wave. The phase difference between the two waves is . (a) By using the general symbols for wavelength, frequency, amplitude and other common symbols for the common physical quantities, write an equation for the resultant wave. (b) If the amplitude and the wavelength of the individual waves are 2.5 mm and 5.0 cm respectively, determine the maximum amplitude of the resultant wave. Solution 10.6 (a) Let Y1 Y2 Y Y = = = = A sin (t KX + ) A sin (t + KX) Y1 + Y2 A sin (t KX + ) + A sin (t + KX) 1 1 = A[2 sin (t KX + + t + KX) cos (t KX + t KX)] 2 2 = 2A cos ( KX) sin (t + ) 2 2

(b) The amplitude of the resultant wave is given by 2A cos ( KX). The amplitude has 2 maximum value when cos ( KX) = 1 2 Maximum amplitude = 2A = 2(2.5 mm) = 5.0 mm 44

Question 10.7 Two loud speakers face each other and are separated by a distance of 1.6 m apart. A stationary sound wave can be set up in the region between the two speakers when they emit sound waves of frequency 400 Hz. The velocity of sound in air is 320 m s1. (a) Calculate the distance between two adjacent nodes. (b) Sketch a graph to illustrate the stationary wave formed between the two speakers. (c) What are the changes to the stationary wave formed if the frequency of the sound wave is increased to 800 Hz? Solution 10.7 (a) V = f 320 = (400) = 0.80 m
N N N

1 Distance betwen two adjacent nodes = 2 1 = (0.8) m 2 = 0.4 m (b) At the speaker, antinode must be formed.

0.2

0.80 m 1.6 m

0.4

0.2

(c) When f = 800 Hz 320 = (800) = 0.40 m

0.1

0.4

0.4 1.6 m

0.4

0.2

0.1

Distance between two adjacent nodes is reduced to 0.20 m and a total of seven loops can be formed.

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