Physics 71 Lecture Notes

Chapter 15 Mechanical Waves

Topic 4.02: Reflection and Transmission

Boundary conditions
Interference
Standing Wave
 Interference
Superposition principle If two or more traveling waves are moving
through a medium, the resultant value of the wave function at any point is the
algebraic sum of the values of the wave functions of the individual waves.

Constructive interference the

resultant pulse gives an amplitude that is
greater than that of either individual pulse.
 Interference
Superposition principle If two or more traveling waves are moving
through a medium, the resultant value of the wave function at any point is the
algebraic sum of the values of the wave functions of the individual waves.

Destructive interference the resultant

pulse gives an amplitude that is smaller
than that of either individual pulse.
Reflection and Transmission (Boundary Condition)
When a pulse encounters the When a pulse encounters the
fixed end of the string, the free end of the string, the
reflected pulse is inverted. reflected pulse is upright.
Reflection and Transmission (Boundary Condition)
A pulse will travel with different speed in different strings with different
linear mass density.
When a pulse traveling on the less
dense string reaches the boundary
between the two strings, part of the
pulse is reflected and inverted and
part is transmitted to the denser
string.

When a pulse traveling on the

denser string reaches the boundary
between the two strings, part of the
pulse is reflected and inverted and
part is transmitted to the less dense
string.
 Standing Waves
y 1 ( x ,t )= A cos(kx t ) Incident wave moving to the +x-axis.

y 2 ( x , t )= A cos(kx+ t) Reflected wave moving to the x -axis.

Using the superposition principle:

y ( x ,t )= y 1 ( x , t )+ y 2 ( x ,t ) = A [ cos(kx t )cos (kx+ t) ] =2 A sin (kx)sin ( t)

Each point on the string still moves in a SHM.

The amplitude of oscillations vary from point to point along the string.
Standing Waves
Consider a string of definite length L, held rigidly at both ends.
The equation of the standing
wave with fixed end at x=0
and x=L is:
y ( x , t )=2 A sin(kx)sin( t )

x=0 x=L
The resulting standing wave must have a node at both ends

sin(kL)=0 kL=n 2
L=n

Allowed wavelengths on the standing wave: = 2 L ; where n=1,2, 3 ,
n
n
Largest possible wavelength is: 1=2 L v
f 1=
Using the wavespeed relation: v= f 2L
v This is the smallest possible
=2 L frequency of oscillations in the
f1
string. fundamental frequency
 Standing Waves
A standing wave pattern with fundamental frequency:

1=2 L
v
Only half wavelength fits in the length of the string.
f 1=

2L
There are two nodes (at the end) and one antinode.
Each point on the string moves in a SHM with the same fundamental frequency.

A wire is stretched so that its ends are tied down at points 80.0 [cm] apart. The wire vibrates
in its fundamental mode with frequency 60.0 [Hz] and with an amplitude at the antinode of
0.300 [cm]. What are the speed of wave propagation in the wire and the maximum transverse
speed of particles in the wire? The particle at the antinode will have
v the maximum transverse speed since:
f 1=
2L v max = A =(2 f 1 ) A
v=f 12 L =(60.0[ Hz])2(0.800[m]) 3
=2 (60.0 [ Hz])(3.0010 [m])
=96.0[m/ s]
=1.13[m /s ]
Standing Waves
normal mode motion where all particles of the system moves in
a SHM with the same frequency.
Frequency of the nth harmonic:
f n =nf 1
v
f n=n
2L

If the tension (F) and linear mass density

() of the wire are given is given:

f 1=
1 F
2L ; f n=
n F
2L
 Standing Waves
The drawing shows two strings that have the same length and linear density.
The left end of each string is attached to a wall, while the right end passes over
a pulley and is connected to objects of different weights (WA and WB). Different
standing waves are set up on each string, but their frequencies are the same.
If WA=44 [N], what is WB?
 Standing Waves
The drawing shows two strings that have the same length and linear density.
The left end of each string is attached to a wall, while the right end passes over
a pulley and is connected to objects of different weights (WA and WB). Different
standing waves are set up on each string, but their frequencies are the same.
If WA=44 [N], what is WB?
Set up A is vibrating with
fundamental frequency.
Set up B is vibrating with second
harmonic frequency.
Highlighted sentence The
fundamental frequency of A is Divide fA with fB and take the square
equal to the second harmonic
frequency of B. of the resulting equation:
2
The frequency of set-up A is

f A=
1 WA
2L
=

fA 1 WA
f B 2 WB ( )
fA
fB
=
1 WA
4 WB
WA
W B=
E3. What is the frequency of set-up B
4
(fB) in terms of L, and WB? W B =11[ N ]
 Standing Waves
A copper block is suspended from a wire, as in Part 1 Part 2
part 1 of the drawing. A container of mercury is
then raised up around the block, as in part 2,
so that 50.0% of the blocks volume is
submerged in the mercury. The density of
copper is 8,890 [kg/m3], and that of mercury is
13,600 [kg/m3]. Find the ratio of the
fundamental frequency of the wire in part 2 to
the fundamental frequency of the wire in part 1.
The fundamental frequency of part
1 is:
f Part 1 = 1 F1
2L
f Part 1 =
1 w Cu
2L E4. What is the volume of the copper
in terms of its weight and density?
The fundamental frequency of part 2
is: Hg
B=0.500 wCu
f Part 2 = 1 F2
2L
f Part 2 =
2L
1 w CuB

where B is the buoyant force due to

Cu

E5. What is the ratio of fPart2 to fPart1?

f Part 2 Hg
mercury
Goal: To rewrite B in terms of wCu
f Part 1
= 10.500
Cu

=0.485
B=Hg g V Hg disp = Hg g(0.500 V Cu )
 Standing Waves
The two adjacent normal modes of a string are 112 [Hz] and
140 [Hz]. How many antinodes are there in the 112 [Hz]
standing wave pattern?
Note: higher harmonics higher frequency
nth harmonic n number of antinodes
Thus, the problem is asking for n if fn=112 [Hz]
f n =n f 1 (1) We need to find the fundamental
frequency first
From (3) and using the given values in (2):
f n =112[ Hz ] f 1=f n+1f n
(2)
f n+1 =140[ Hz] f 1 =140[ Hz]112[ Hz]
=28[ Hz]
From (1) and using the given values in (2):
f n+1f n=(n+1) f 1 n f 1
f n =n f 1
=f 1
112[ Hz]=n(28[ Hz])
f 1 =f n+1 f n (3) n=4