Waves

Chapter: Waves

Young’s principle of superposition of waves

When two or more waves travel in a medium, along a straight line, simultaneously, then net displacement of any particle is the algebraic sum of displacement produced by the individual waves separately.

This principle work good for mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves, provided their amplitude is not very large.

Bounded Medium:

A medium bounded by definite boundaries. Boundary can be of two types

[1] Free boundary

[2] [2] Rigid or Fixed boundary

Let both end of a string be Free. Transverse wave / pulse propagates along the string is get disappear while reaching at the other end. Mean time, another pulse appear to come back from the free end. Here there is no change in phase ( π = 0) of the reflected pulse.

If equation for incident wave

y = A sin (wt - kx)

Then the equation of wave reflected from the free ind will be

y = A' sin (wt + kx)

Wave / pulse reflected from Free boundary.

If the displacement of particles in incident pulse is upward, then the displacement of particles in reflected pulse is downward and vice versa. This mean wave or pulse reflected from a rigid boundary , it undergos a phase change of 180 degree.

If the equation for incident wave, propagated along +ve X axis :

y = A sin (wt - kx)

Then the equation for wave reflected from rigid end will be

y = A' sin (wt + kx + π )

Here A' is the amplitude of the reflected wave

(x) is replaced by (-x) because reflected wave travel in opposite direction

( π ) is the phase difference between incident and reflected wave.

Production of Stationary wave

When two waves of same frequency and Amplitude travel in opposite direction in a straight line, at the same speed, they superimpose each other and a new wave is formed. It is called Stationary wave.

Further READING in Stationary wave


Nodes & Anti Nodes


At some points, particles of medium always remain at their mean position. Such points are called Nodes.

The position of t he particles which vibrate with maximum amplitude are called Anti Nodes.


Differentiate close and open pipe in sound wave?

A pipe close at one end is called a closed pipe. When stationary wave is formed with in the pipe, an Anti – node is formed always at the open end.

In case of closed pipe, a node is formed at the closed end, the wave get reflected by the rigid wall at closed end.

Sonic BOOM

The Pressure waves produced by airplanes, as they travel Super sonic (Greater than Sound velocity )

As the plane travel, it pushes the air surrounding it. which courses pressure waves

These shock waves surrounding the plane is sonic boom.


Sonic Boom: Youtube video



Video by Sciencemadefun