PHYSICS 1 for ARCHITECTS

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr. Humayra Ferdous

Chapter TWO: WAVE I
• Characteristics of mechanical waves
• Equations of traveling wave
• Energy density and intensity of wave
• Stationary waves

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Energy density
cross-section of the medium
(Perpendicular to direction of wave)

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
Fig: Energy propagating from left to right
Cross sectional area (ꓕto DWM)

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Direction of Wave Motion
(DWM)
 Energy density of plane progressive wave

• In plane progressive wave there is a regular

transmission of energy through every cross-
section of the medium.
• This energy is supplied by the source.
• The energy transferred per second corresponds
to the energy possessed by the particles in a length

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
v, where v is the wave velocity.
• The energy of the particles is partly kinetic and partly
potential.
• The kinetic energy is due to the vibration of the
particles and the potential energy is due to the
displacement of the particles from their mean
positions. 3
 The equation of a plane progressive wave is

2 ….. ….. …… (18)

y  a sin ( vt  x )

The velocity of a particle

dy
 ym cos (t - kx) ….. ….. …. (19
dt
And the acceleration of a particle,

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
d2y
a  2    2 y m sin ( t - kx)   2 y
dy …. ….. …..(20)

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 We know, density ρ = Mass (M) / Volume (V)…(1)

Fig: Energy propagating from left to right

Now,
Let us consider a unit volume of the medium parallel to
the wave front in the form of a very thin section.

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
Here V= 1 unit

So (1) becomes,
Mass of the element =  ( the density of the medium)

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=

….. …. …..( 21)

Since the layer is very thin all of the particles are
assumed to posses the same velocity.
So the kinetic energy per unit volume of the medium
K.E. =1/2 (mass) x (velocity)2
=1/2 U2

=1/2  [ ym cos (t - kx)] 2

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
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   2 ym2 cos 2 (t  kx)........( 21)
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Now the force on particles per unit volume of the
medium
force = mass x acceleration
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 d2y
  2
dt
   .y
2

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
Hence work done per unit volume for a small
displacement dy of the layer,
= force X displacement

  2 . ydy

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Thus the total work done when the medium
particles are displaced from 0 to y,
y y

W    2  y.dy   2   y.dy
0 0

y2 1 2 2
  2
  y

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
2 2
1
  2  ym sin 2 (t  kx)
2

Obviously this is the potential energy per

unit volume of the medium.
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Thus the total energy per unit volume of the of the
energy density of the plane progressive wave
E = K.E. + P.E.

1 2
E    ym [sin 2 (t  kx)  cos 2 (t  kx)].....( 23)
2

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
1 2
   ym ....( 24)
2

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In case the cross section of the beam be unity,
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expression [24] [ E   2  ym 2 ]
2
give the total energy of the beam of the wave in unit
length.
If v is the velocity of wave then the energy transferred
per second (Intensity, I) through unit cross-sectional

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr.

Humayra Ferdous
area is
I = Exv

 2 2 n 2 a 2  v
This is the rate of flow of energy through unit
area of cross-section of the wave front and is
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called the energy current or intensity.
 Thank You

Physics-1 for Architects ---Dr. Humayra Ferdous

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