Waves Numerical Problems
Problem 1
If a wave 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) = (6.0 mm)sin(𝑘𝑥 + (600rad/s)𝑡 + 𝜙) travels along a string,
how much time does any given point on the string take to move between
displacements 𝑦 = +2.0 mm and 𝑦 = −2.0 mm ?
Solution:
Let 𝑦1 = 2.0 mm (corresponding to time 𝑡1 ) and
𝑦2 = −2.0 mm (corresponding to time 𝑡2 ).
Using above values, we can write;
2 = (6.0 mm)sin(𝑘𝑥 + 600𝑡1 + 𝜙)
−2 = (6.0 mm)sin(𝑘𝑥 + 600𝑡2 + 𝜙)
By re-arranging
𝑘𝑥 + 600𝑡1 + 𝜙 = sin−1 (2.0/6.0)
𝑘𝑥 + 600𝑡2 + 𝜙 = sin−1 (−2.0/6.0)
Subtracting equations gives
600(𝑡1 − 𝑡2 ) = sin−1 (2.0/6.0) − sin−1 (−2.0/6.0)
Thus we find 𝑡1 − 𝑡2 = 0.011 s (or 1.1 ms ).
Problem 2
A wave has an angular frequency of 110rad/s and a wavelength of 1.80 m. Calculate
(a) the angular wave number and (b) the speed of the wave.
Solution:
2𝜋 2𝜋
The angular wave number is 𝑘 = = = 3.49 m−1 .
𝜆 1.80 m
𝜆𝜔 (1.80 m)(110rad/s)
The speed of the wave is 𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓 = = = 31.5 m/s.
2𝜋 2𝜋
1
Problem 3
A sinusoidal wave travels along a string. The time for a particular point to move
from maximum displacement to zero is 0.170 s. What are the (a) period and (b)
frequency? (c) The wavelength is 1.40 m ; what is the wave speed?
Solution:
(a) The motion from maximum displacement to zero is one-fourth of a cycle.
One fourth of a period is 0.170 s , so the period is 𝑇 = 4(0.170 s) = 0.680 s.
(b) The frequency is the reciprocal of the period:
1 1
𝑓= = = 1.47 Hz
𝑇 0.680 s
(c) A sinusoidal wave travels one wavelength in one period:
𝜆 1.40 m
𝑣= = = 2.06 m/s
𝑇 0.680 s
Problem 4
The equation of a transverse wave traveling along a very long string is
𝑦 = 6sin(0.020𝜋𝑥 + 4.0𝜋𝑡), where 𝑥 and 𝑦 are expressed in centimeters and 𝑡 is
in seconds.
Determine (a) the amplitude, (b) the wavelength, (c) the frequency, (d) the speed, (e)
the direction of propagation of the wave, and (f) the maximum transverse speed of a
particle in the string. (g) What is the transverse displacement at 𝑥 = 3.5 cm when
𝑡 = 0.26 s?
Solution:
(a) The amplitude is 𝑦𝑚 = 6 cm.
(b) We find 𝜆 from:
2𝜋
𝑘=
𝜆
2
2𝜋
0.020𝜋 =
𝜆
2𝜋
𝜆= = 100𝑐𝑚
0.020𝜋
(c)
𝜔 4𝜋
𝑓= = = 2𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 2𝜋
(d) The wave speed is
𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓 = (100 cm)(2.0 Hz) = 2.0 × 102 cm/s.
(e) The wave propagates in the −𝑥 direction, since the argument of the trig
function is 𝑘𝑥 + 𝜔𝑡
(f) The maximum transverse speed (found from the time derivative of 𝑦 ) is
𝑢max = 𝜔𝑦𝑚 = (4𝜋)(6 cm) = 75 cm/s.
(g) 𝑦(3.5 cm, 0.26 s) = (6.0 cm)sin[0.020𝜋(3.5) + 4.0𝜋(0.26)] = −2.0 cm.
Problem 5
The equation of a transverse wave on a string is
𝑦 = (2.0 mm)sin[(20 m−1 )𝑥 − (600 s −1 )𝑡]
The tension in the string is 15 N. (a) What is the wave speed? (b) Find the linear
density of this string in grams per meter.
Solution:
From given equation 𝑘 = 20/m and 𝜔 = 600rad/s. Speed of the wave is
𝜔 600
𝑓= = = 95.54𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 2𝜋
2𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑘= 𝜆 = = = 0.314𝑚
𝜆 𝑘 20
3
𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓 = 0.314 × 95.54 = 30𝑚/𝑠
(b)
𝜏
𝑣=√
𝜇
𝜏 15
𝜇= 2
= 2 = 0.017 kg/m = 17 g/m
𝑣 30
Problem 6
The speed of a transverse wave on a string is 170 m/s when the string tension is
120 N. To what value must the tension be changed to raise the wave speed to
180 m/s ?
Solution:
If speed is 𝑣1 , then tension is 𝜏1
𝜏1 𝜏1
𝑣1 = √ 𝜇 = 2
𝜇 𝑣1
If speed is 𝑣2 , then tension is 𝜏2
𝜏2 𝜏2
𝑣2 = √ 𝜇 = 2
𝜇 𝑣2
By comparing above two equations, we get;
𝜏1 𝜏2
=
𝑣1 2 𝑣2 2
𝑣2 2 180 2
𝜏2 = 𝜏1 ( ) = (120) ( ) = 135 N
𝑣1 170
4
Problem 7
The linear density of a string is 1.6 × 10−4 kg/m. A transverse wave on the string
is described by the equation
𝑦 = (0.021 m)sin[(2 m−1 )𝑥 + (30 s −1 )𝑡]
What are (a) the wave speed and (b) the tension in the string?
Solution:
(a)
𝜔 30
𝑓= = = 4.78𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 2𝜋
2𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑘= 𝜆 = = = 3.14𝑚
𝜆 𝑘 2
𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓 = 3.14 × 4.78 = 15𝑚/𝑠
(b)
𝜏
𝑣=√
𝜇
𝜏 = 𝜇𝑣 2 = (1.6 × 10−4 )(15 )2 = 0.036 N
Problem 8
A string along which waves can travel is 2.7 m long and has a mass of 260 g. The
tension in the string is 36 N . What must be the frequency of traveling waves of
amplitude 7.7 mm for the average power to be 85 W ?
Solution:
𝑚 0.26
𝜇= = = 0.0963𝑘𝑔/𝑚
𝐿 2.7
𝜏 36
𝑣=√ =√ = 19.34𝑚/𝑠
𝜇 0.0963
5
Now average power equation is;
1
𝑃avg = 𝜇𝜈𝜔2 𝑦𝑚
2
2
1 2𝑃avg 1 2 × 85
𝜔= √ = √ = 1240.77𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑦𝑚 𝜇𝜈 7.7 × 10−3 0.0963 × 19.34
𝜔 1240.77
𝑓= = = 197.47𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 6.28
