Abstract
Waves, viewed as phenomena extended in both time and space, are introduced in this chapter. The mathematical wave equation is presented together with the concepts of wavelength, period and wave velocity. Also, the mathematical expressions of a wave, in both real and complex notation, are presented, as well as the concepts of transverse and longitudinal waves. The transverse equation of motion of a string, as well as the longitudinal movement of air (or water) molecules when a sound wave passes through the compressible medium, is shown to follow a wave equation.
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Notes
- 1.
For sufficient small wavelengths, this approximation cannot be used. The limiting wavelength depends on the stiffness of the material of the string.
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Vistnes, A.I. (2018). Waves. In: Physics of Oscillations and Waves. Undergraduate Texts in Physics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72314-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72314-3_6
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-72313-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-72314-3
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