CH AP TE R-2 : Wa v e m o tio n ( Ov e rv ie )w

 2.1 Wave and Particle

a) Wave velocity
b) Equation for a Travelling (Progressive) wave
c) Differential equation for wave motion
d) Particle velocity and wave velocity
e) Types of waves
 2.2 Energy of a Travelling wave

 2.3 Speed of a Travelling wave in stretched string

2.1 Waves and particles
There are two ways to communicate a message for a
friend, living in a distant city- first to send letter and
second to use phone, mail, etc. The first way involves the
concept of particles in which material objects move from
one place to another for carrying information and energy
while the second way involves the concept of waves in
which information and energy transfer from one place to
another without transferring the material objects. In
general, wave motion refers to the transfer of energy
without transfer of material particles.
The word 'particle' suggests a tiny concentration of matter
capable of transmitting energy. The word 'wave' suggests
a broad distribution of energy, filling the space through
which it passes.
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Contd….
Thus, in summary, wave motion is a form of disturbance
which travels through the medium due to repeated
periodic motion of particles of the medium about their
mean position such that the disturbance handed over
from one particle to next. According to the direction of
vibration of the particle in the reference of direction of
wave propagation, the wave motion is of following two
kinds:
i) Transverse wave motion:-
ii) Longitudinal wave motion:-
It is also noted that both transverse and longitudinal
waves are called travelling waves or progressive
waves, because they travel from one point to another by
transferring energy.
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2.1.1 Wave velocity
For one oscillation of the wave, distance covered by the wave is
equal to wavelength (λ) and time taken to cover that distance is
equal to time period (T) of the wave so that velocity of the wave
is given by, , where which represents frequency of the wave.
2.1.2 Equation for a Travelling (Progressive)
wave

Let, for particle O,

For particle A,
Where is phase difference X=OA
corresponding to path diff. x

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Contd…
But, , where λ represents wavelength of the wave
So,
i.e. , where (2.1)
Also,, since ,
where f represents linear frequency
, since

(2.2)

Similarly, for a particle 'B', (2.3)

(2.4)
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2.1.3 Differential equation for wave motion
By equation (2.2),
So, particle velocity , (2.5)

And, particle ace., (2.6)

Again, on differentiating equation (2.2) w.r.t. x, we get the

slope of displacement curve (called compression), which
is represented by, (2.7)

So, rate of change of compression w.r.t. x is represented

by (2.8)

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Contd….

On comparing equation (2.5) and (2.7), we have,

(2.9)

And, on comparing equation (2.6) and (2.8), we have,

(2.10)
which represents differential equation for wave motion.

Further, this equation can also be written as

(2.11)
where , i.e.

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2.1.4 Particle velocity and wave velocity
From equation (2.5),
So, maximum particle velocity is (2.12)
i.e. maximum particle velocity = x wave velocity

Again, from equation (2.6),

So, max. particle acceleration is (2.13)

Further, by equation (2.5) and (2.7), we can write that

(2.14)

i.e. particle velocity at any instant = wave velocity x

slope of displacement curve at that instant
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2.1.5 Types of waves
Waves are of following three types mainly:
i) Mechanical waves
ii) Electromagnetic waves
iii) Matter waves

2.2 Energy of a Travelling wave

In case of travelling wave, supplied by a source, there is
always transfer of energy in the direction of propagation
of wave without transfer of medium. The energy
transferred per second represents the energy possessed
by the particles in a length 'v' where 'v' is the velocity of
the wave.
Contd…
For a travelling wave, the displacement of a particle is
represented by, .
So, particle velocity is,
and particle ace. is, .

Expression for Potential Energy (P.E.):

The amount of work done for a small displacement 'dy' is

represented by , where F represents restoring force

So, , where ρ and V be the density and volume of the

medium respectively
Contd…
Thus, work done per unit volume for the displacement
'dy' is
Hence, total work done per unit volume for a displacement
'y' is

i.e., P.E. per unit volume for a displacement 'y' is (2.15)

Again, K.E. per unit volume is represented by

(2.16)
Contd…
Thus, Total Energy per unit volume is
i.e.
(2.17)

Since average P.E. per unit volume and average K.E. per
unit volume are equal, each is equal to half the total
energy per unit volume.
Hence, average P.E. per unit volume = average K.E. per
unit volume = (2.18)
Again, total energy transfer per unit area per unit time
= (2.19)
2.3 Speed of a Travelling wave in stretched string
and (2.20)

Special Cases:
(I) In case of transverse mode of vibration: If the string of
length 'l' vibrates in 'p' segments, then length of each
segment is equal to and each segment corresponds to
half wavelength. Thus, . Hence,

(ii) In case of longitudinal mode of vibration:

If the string of length 'l' vibrates in 'p' segments, then
length of each segment is equal to and each segment
corresponds to quarter-wavelength. Thus, . Hence,