The wavelength of a travelling wave is 4m at a frequency of 10hertz. what time later will there be another crest at x=3m? ii) if the amplitude of the wave is 12m, write the equation of the wave?

2 Answers
May 14, 2016

I found: 0.1s and y(x,t)=12cos(1.57x-62.83t)

Explanation:

I would write the equation as:
y(x,t)=Acos(kx-omegat)
where:
A=amplitude;
k=(2pi)/lambda is the wavenumber (lambda is the wavelength);
omega=(2pi)/T is the angular frequency (T is the period).
You have everything here:
From the frquency you get the period as:
T=1/f=1/10=0.1s that incidentally is the time to have the next crest at your position (the period represents the time to complete an oscillation).
lambda=4m
so finally your wave (propagating in the +x direction) will be:
color(red)(y(x,t)=12cos(1.57x-62.83t))

May 14, 2016

(i) 0.1s
(ii) psi (x,t) = 12 e^{i( (pi)/2x - 20pi t)}

Explanation:

A basic wave@ may be expressed in the following general equation
psi (x,t) = A e^{i( kx - \omega t)} ..........(1)
where A is the maximum amplitude,
wavenumber k=(2pi)/lambda, and
angular frequency omega=2pif .
(lambda is wavelength and f is the frequency of the wave).

From the given frequency of 10Hz, we get time period T=1/f
T=1/10=0.1s. Also given is lambda=4m
(i) What time later will there be another crest at x=3m.
We know that for any value of x, the traveling wave repeats itself as per time-period of the wave. Therefore, if crest appeared at t=0; the next crest will occur at
t=0+T=0+0.1=0.1s

(ii) Inserting values of A,k and omega in (1) we obtain
psi (x,t) = 12 e^{i( (2pi)/4x - 2pi xx10 t)}
psi (x,t) = 12 e^{i( (pi)/2x - 20pi t)}

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

@which can be shown to be the usual sine and cosine forms using Euler's formula.
Rewriting the argument as,
kx-\omega t =(2pi)/lambdak-2pift, after substituting v=flambda
= (\frac{2\pi}{\lambda})(x - vt)
We see that this expression describes a vibration of wavelength \lambda = \frac{2\pi}{k} traveling along the x-direction with a constant phase velocity given by v_p = \frac{\omega}{k}.