03 - Waves

One Dimensional Travelling Waves

Wave Equation

• A partial differential equation that describe the shape and

movement of waves.
One Dimensional Travelling Waves

• y is vertical displacement of medium.

• v is the constant speed of wave moving

to right direction.

• y=f(x) is the shape of pulse at t = 0

• y displacement is called wave function

One Dimensional Travelling Waves

• Wave function depends on both x and t.

• The wave function y represent the y coordinate of any

point P of the medium at any time t.
One Dimensional Travelling Waves

• y = f ( x – vt ) wave travelling to the right

• y = f ( x + vt ) wave travelling to the left

One Dimensional Travelling Waves

• y = f ( x – vt ) ; x-vt = x0
At t=0, the crest is at x = x0

At time dt later; position of crest => x = x0 + vdt

The crest moved a distance
dx = ( x0 + vdt ) - x0 = vdt
dx = vdt
Speed of the wave
v = dx / dt
Example: A Pulse Moving to the Right

• A wave pulse moving to the right along the x-axis is represented by

the wave function

where x and y are measured in centimeters and t is measured in

seconds. Plot the wave function at t = 0, t = 1.0 and t = 2.0 s.

Example: A Pulse Moving to the Right
Example: A Pulse Moving to the Right
Example: A Pulse Moving to the Right
Example: A Pulse Moving to the Right

• Let us evaluate y ( x , 0) at x = 0.50 cm :

• Likewise, at
x = 1.0 cm ; y(1.0, 0) = 1.0 cm

• x = 2.0 cm ; y(2.0, 0) = 0.40 cm

• y (x, 1.0) and y (x, 2.0)