CHAPTER 16

WAVE MOTION
1.25 m apart. What is the speed of the waves on the cable? Compare with the speed of light in vacuum.

ActivPhysics can help with these problems: Activities 10.1, 10.2, 10.7, 10.10 Section 16-2: Wave Properties Problem
1. Ocean waves with 18-m wavelength travel at 5.3 m/s. What is the time interval between wave crests passing under a boat moored at a xed location?

Solution
The distance between adjacent wave crests is one wavelength, so the wave speed in the cable (Equation 16-1) is v = f = (145106 Hz)(1.25 m) = 1.81 108 m/s = 0.604c, where c = 3108 m/s is the wave speed in vacuum.

Solution
Wave crests (adjacent wavefronts) take a time of one period to pass a xed point, traveling at the wave speed (or phase velocity) for a distance of one wavelength. Thus T = /v = 18 m/(5.3 m/s) = 3.40 s.

Problem
6. Calculate the wavelengths of (a) a 1.0-MHz AM radio wave, (b) a channel 9 TV signal (190 MHz), (c) a police radar (10 GHz), (d) infrared radiation from a hot stove (4.01013 Hz), (e) green light (6.01014 Hz), and (f) 1.01018 Hz X rays. All are electromagnetic waves that propagate at 3.0108 m/s.

Problem
2. Ripples in a shallow puddle are propagating at 34 cm/s. If the wave frequency is 5.2 Hz, what are (a) the period and (b) the wavelength?

Solution
With Equation 16-1 in an equivalent form, = vT = v/f, we nd: (a) = (3108 m/s)/(106 Hz) = 300 m, (b) = 1.58 m, (c) = 3 cm, (d) = 7.5 m, (e) = 500 nm, (f) = 3. (See Appendix C on A units.)

Solution
Equation 16-1 gives T = 1/f = 1/5.2 Hz = 0.192 s and = v/f = vT = (34 cm/s)/(5.2 Hz) = 6.54 cm.

Problem
3. An 88.7-MHz FM radio wave propagates at the speed of light. What is its wavelength?

Problem
7. Detecting objects by reecting waves o them is eective only for objects larger than about one wavelength. (a) What is the smallest object that can be seen with visible light (maximum frequency 7.51014 Hz)? (b) What is the smallest object that can be detected with a medical ultrasound unit operating at 5 MHz? The speed of ultrasound waves in body tissue is about 1500 m/s.

Solution
From Equation 16-1, = v/f = (3108 m/s) (88.7106 Hz) = 3.38 m.

Problem
4. One end of a rope is tied to a wall. You shake the other end with a frequency of 2.2 Hz, producing waves whose wavelength is 1.6 m. What is their propagation speed?

Solution
(a) The wavelength of light corresponding to this maximum frequency is = c/f = (3108 m/s) (7.51014 Hz) = 400 nm, violet in hue (see Equation 16-1). (b) The ultrasonic waves described have wavelength = v/f = (1500 m/s)/(5 MHz) = 0.3 mm.

Solution
v = f = (2.2 Hz)(1.6 m) = 3.52 m/s (see Equation 16-1).

Problem
5. A 145-MHz radio signal propagates along a cable. Measurement shows that the wave crests are spaced

Problem
8. A seismograph located 1200 km from an earthquake detects waves from the quake 5.0 min after the

CHAPTER 16 quake occurs. The seismograph oscillates in step with the waves, at a frequency of 3.1 Hz. Find the wavelength of the waves.

Problem
11. An ocean wave has period 4.1 s and wavelength 10.8 m. Find (a) its wave number and (b) its angular frequency.

Solution
The wave speed can be calculated from the distance and the travel time, which, together with the frequency and Equation 16-1, gives a wavelength of = v/f = (d/t)/f = 1200 km/(5603.1) = 1.29 km.

Solution
From Equations 16-3 and 4, (a) k = 2/10.8 m = 0.582 m1 , and (b) = 2/(4.1 s) = 1.53 s1 .

Problem
9. In Fig. 16-28 two boats are anchored oshore and are bobbing up and down on the waves at the rate of six complete cycles each minute. When one boat is up the other is down. If the waves propagate at 2.2 m/s, what is the minimum distance between the boats?

Problem
12. Find (a) the amplitude, (b) the wavelength, (c) the period, and (d) the speed of a wave whose displacement is given by y = 1.3 cos(0.69x + 31t), where x and y are in cm and t is in seconds. (e) In which direction is the wave propagating?

Solution
(a) A = ymax = 1.3 cm, (b) = 2/k = 2 0.69 cm1 = 9.11 cm, (c) T = 2/ = 2/31 s1 = 0.203 s1 , and (d) v = /k = 44.9 cm/s. (e) A phase of the form kx + t describes a wave propagating in the negative x direction.

Solution
The boats are 180 = rad out of phase, so the minimum distance separating them is half a wavelength. (In general, they could be an odd number of half-wavelengths apart.) The frequency is 6/60 s = 1 0.1 Hz, so 2 = 1 v/f = 1 (2.2 m/s)/(0.1/s) = 11 m. 2 2 (Fig. 16-28 shows the answer, not the question.)

Problem
13. A simple harmonic wave of wavelength 16 cm and amplitude 2.5 cm is propagating along a string in the negative x direction at 35 cm/s. Find (a) the angular frequency and (b) the wave number. (c) Write a mathematical expression describing the displacement y of this wave (in centimeters) as a function of position and time. Assume the displacement at x = 0 is a maximum when t = 0.

Solution
figure 16-28 Problem 9 Solution. (b) Equation 16-4 gives k = 2/16 cm = 0.393 cm1 , and (a) Equation 16-6 gives = kv = (0.393 cm1 ) (35 cm/s) = 13.7 s1 . (c) Equation 16-5, for a wave moving in the negative x direction, becomes y(x, t) = (2.5 cm) cos[(0.393 cm1 )x + (13.7 s1 )t].

Section 16-3: Mathematical Description of Wave Motion Problem

10. Ultrasound used in a particular medical imager has frequency 4.8 MHz and wavelength 0.31 mm. Find (a) the angular frequency, (b) the wave number, and (c) the wave speed.

Problem
14. Figure 16-29 shows a simple harmonic wave at time t = 0 and later at t = 2.6 s. Write a mathematical description of this wave.

Solution
(a) Equation 16-3 gives = 2(4.8 MHz) = 3.02 107 s1 . (b) Equation 16-4 gives k = 2/0.31 mm = 2.03104 m1 . (c) Together, these give v = f = /k = 1.49 km/s (see Equation 16-1 or 6).

Solution
Inspection of Fig. 16-29 shows that the wavelength is 8 cm, the amplitude is 1.5 cm, and the velocity is v = x/t = 2 cm/2.6 s = 0.769 cm/s. The phase constant is zero (since y = A at t = 0 and x = 0) and the wave is traveling in the positive x direction. Thus, k = 2/ = 0.785 cm1 , = kv = 0.604 s1 , and the

CHAPTER 16 waveform is y(x, t) = (1.5 cm) cos[(0.785 cm1 )x (0.604 s1 )t].

positive x direction with speed v, can be obtained by replacing x by x vt, y(x, t) = f (x vt). For the given f (x) and v, y(x, t) = 2[(x 3t)4 + 1]1 , with x and y in cm and t in s.

Problem
18. Plot the answer to the previous problem as a function of position x for the two cases t = 0 and t = 4 s, and verify that your plots are consistent with the pulse speed of 3 cm/s. figure 16-29 Problem 14 Solution.

Solution
(Between 0 and 4 s, the pulse has moved (3 cm/s)(4 s) = 12 cm to the right.)

Problem
15. What are (a) the amplitude, (b) the frequency in hertz, (c) the wavelength, and (d) the speed of a water wave whose displacement is y = 0.25 sin(0.52x 2.3t), where x and y are in meters and t in seconds?

Solution
Comparison of the given displacement with Equation 16-5 reveals that (a) A = 0.25 m, (b) f = /2 = (2.3 s1 )/2 = 0.366 Hz, (c) = 2/k = 2/(0.52 m1 ) = 12.1 m, and v = /k = (2.3 s1 )/0.52 m1 = 4.42 m/s. (Note: The presence of a phase constant of = /2 in the expression for y(x, t) = A sin(kx t) = A cos(kx t + ) does not aect any of the quantities queried in this problem.) Problem 18 Solution.

Problem
19. Figure 16-30a shows a wave plotted as a function of position at time t = 0, while Fig. 16-30b shows the same wave plotted as a function of time at position x = 0. Find (a) the wavelength, (b) the period, (c) the wave speed, and (d) the direction of propagation.

Problem
16. A sound wave with frequency 256 Hz (the musical note middle C) is propagating in air at 343 m/s. How far apart are two points on the wave that dier in phase by /2 or 90 ?

Solution
Two points in space separated by one wavelength dier in phase by 2 (or one cycle). Therefore, a phase dierence of /2 (one quarter of a cycle) corresponds to a separation of /4 = (v/f )/4 = (343 m/s) (4256 Hz) = 33.5 cm.

Problem
17. At time t = 0, the displacement in a transverse wave pulse is described by y = 2(x4 + 1)1 , with both x and y in cm. Write an expression for the pulse as a function of position x and time t if it is propagating in the positive x direction at 3 cm/s.

Solution
From the shape of the pulse at t = 0, y(x, 0) = f (x), a pulse with the same waveform, traveling in the

figure 16-30 Problem 19.

CHAPTER 16

Solution
(a) The wavelength is the distance between successive maxima at the same time (say t = 0), so Fig. 16-30a gives = 3 m. (b) The period is the time interval between successive maxima (or some other specic phases diering by 2) at the same point (say x = 0), so Fig. 16-30b gives T = 1.5 s. (c) v = /k = /T = 2 m/s. (d) Fig. 16-30b shows that as t increases from 0, the displacement at x = 0 rst becomes negative. The waveform in Fig. 16-30a must therefore move to the right, in the positive x direction. [For the sinusoidal wave pictured, y(x, 0) = A sin kx and y(0, t) = A sin t = A sin(t), so y(x, t) = A sin(kx t).]

Problem
23. A transverse wave with 3.0-cm amplitude and 75-cm wavelength is propagating on a stretched spring whose mass per unit length is 170 g/m. If the wave speed is 6.7 m/s, nd (a) the spring tension and (b) the maximum speed of any point on the spring.

Solution
(a) Equation 16-7 gives F = v 2 = (0.17 kg/m) (6.7 m/s)2 = 7.63 N. (b) The unnumbered equation for the vertical velocity of the medium in Section 16.5 gives umax = (dy/dt)max = A = (2v/)A = 2(6.7 m/s)(3 cm)/(75 cm) = 1.68 m/s.

Problem
20. Write a mathematical description of the wave in the preceding problem.

Problem
24. A rope is stretched between supports 12 m apart; its tension is 35 N. If one end of the rope is tweaked, the resulting disturbance reaches the other end 0.45 s later. What is the total mass of the rope?

Solution
From Fig. 16-30, the amplitude is probably 2 m, so y(x, t) = (2 m)sin[(2/3 m)x (2/1.5 s)t] = (2 m)sin[(2.09 m1 )x (4.19 s1 )t]. (See solution to preceding problem.)

Solution
The wave speed is v = /t = F/(m/ ), where = 12 m is the length and t = 0.45 s is the travel time. Therefore, the mass is m = F t2 / = (35 N) (0.45 s)2 /(12 m) = 591 g.

Section 16-4: Waves on a String Problem

21. The main cables supporting New Yorks George Washington Bridge have a mass per unit length of 4100 kg/m and are under tension of 250 MN. At what speed would a transverse wave propagate on these cables?

Problem
25. A 3.1-kg mass hangs from a 2.7-m-long string whose total mass is 0.62 g. What is the speed of transverse waves on the string? Hint: You can ignore the string mass in calculating the tension but not in calculating the wave speed. Why?

Solution
v = F/ = (2.5108 N)/(4100 kg/m) = 247 m/s (from Equation 16-7).

Solution
The tension in the string is approximately equal to the weight of the 3.1 kg mass (since the weight of the string is only 2% of this). Thus, v = F/ = (3.1 kg)(9.8 m/s )(2.7 m)/(0.62 g) = 364 m/s. (0.62 g is small compared to 3.1 kg, but not small compared to zero!)
2

Problem
22. A transverse wave 1.2 cm in amplitude is propagating on a string; the wave frequency is 44 Hz. The string is under 21 N tension and has mass per unit length of 15 g/m. Determine (a) the wave speed and (b) the maximum speed of a point on the string.

Problem
26. Transverse waves propagate at 18 m/s on a string whose tension is 14 N. What will be the wave speed if the tension is increased to 40 N?

Solution
(a) The wave speed is v = F/ = (21 N)/(0.015 kg/m) = 37.4 m/s. (b) From the second equation in Section 16.5, umax = A = 2(44 Hz)(1.2 cm) = 3.32 m/s.

Solution
2 Since = F1 /v1 , v2 = F2 / = F2 /F1 v1 = 40/14(18 m/s) = 30.4 m/s is the speed at the increased tension.

CHAPTER 16

Problem
27. The density of copper is 8.29 g/cm . What is the tension in a 1.0-mm-diameter copper wire that propagates transverse waves at 120 m/s?
3

Solution
The linear mass density of copper wire with diameter 3 d is = m/ = 1 d2 = (8.29 g/cm ) 1 (1 mm)2 = 4 4 6.51103 kg/m, so F = v 2 = (6.51103 kg/m) (120 m/s)2 = 93.8 N.

pulley and tied to a wall as shown in Fig. 16-31. The speed of transverse waves on the horizontal section of wire is observed to be 20 m/s. If a second mass m2 is added to the rst, the wave speed increases to 45 m/s. Find the second mass. Assume the string does not stretch appreciably.

Solution
Since the wire is at rest, the tension in the horizontal section equals the weight attached (provided the pulley is frictionless). Then the wave speeds are v1 = m1 g/ and v2 = (m1 + m2 )g/, from which 2 2 one nds that m2 = (v2 v1 )/g = (5.6 g/m) 2 2 2 [(45 m/s) (20 m/s) ]/(9.8 m/s ) = 929g. (If the wire doesnt stretch, its diameter stays the same and is constant.)

Problem
28. A 100-m-long wire has a mass of 130 g. A sample of the wire is tested and found to break at a tension of 150 N. What is the maximum propagation speed for transverse waves on this wire?

Problem
31. A steel wire can tolerate a maximum tension per 2 unit cross-sectional area of 2.7 GN/m before it undergoes permanent distortion. What is the maximum possible speed for transverse waves in a steel wire if it is to remain undistorted? Steel has 3 a density of 7.9 g/cm .

Solution
vmax = Fmax / = = 340 m/s. 150 N/(0.13 kg/100 m)

Problem
29. A 25-m-long piece of 1.0-mm-diameter wire is put under 85 N tension. If a transverse wave takes 0.21 s to travel the length of the wire, what is the density of the material comprising the wire?

Solution
The linear density is the (volume) density times the cross-sectional area (see solution to Problem 27), 2 whereas the maximum tension is 2.7 GN/m times the same cross-sectional area. Therefore vmax = (2.7 GN/m )/(7.9 g/cm ) = 585 m/s. (Recall that the prex giga equals 109 and that 1 g/cm = 3 103 kg/m .)
3 2 3

Solution
From the length of wire, travel time, and Equation 16-7, v = 25 m/0.21 s = 85 N/, so = 6.00 103 kg/m. But for a uniform wire of length and 1 diameter d, = / 4 d2 = (6.00103 kg/m) 3 1 2 4 (1 mm) = 7.64 g/cm (see solution to Problem 27).

Problem
32. A uniform cable hangs vertically under its own weight. Show that the speed of waves on the cable is given by v = yg, where y is the distance from the bottom of the cable.

Problem
30. A mass m1 is attached to a wire of linear density 5.6 g/m, and the other end of the wire run over a

Solution
The tension in the cable can be found by integrating Newtons second law, applied to a small element at rest. With quantities dened in the sketch, 0 = T + dT T g dm, or dT = g dm. For a uniform cable, dm = dy where the linear density is a constant, so T = gy (the constant of integration is zero for y measured from the bottom of the cable). It follows from Equation 16-7 that v = T / = gy.

m1

figure 16-31 Problem 30.

CHAPTER 16

Problem
35. A 600-g Slinky is stretched to a length of 10 m. You shake one end at the frequency of 1.8 Hz, applying a time-average power of 1.1 W. The resulting waves propagate along the Slinky at 2.3 m/s. What is the wave amplitude?

Solution
We assume that the elastic properties of a stretched string are shared by the Slinky, so Equation 16-8 applies. Then A = 2(1.1 W)/(0.06 kg/m)(2.3 m/s)/(21.8 Hz) = 35.3 cm.

Problem 32 Solution.

Section 16-5: Wave Power and Intensity Problem

33. A rope with 280 g of mass per meter is under 550 N tension. A wave with frequency 3.3 Hz and amplitude 6.1 cm is propagating on the rope. What is the average power carried by the wave?

Problem
36. A simple harmonic wave of amplitude 5.0 cm, wavelength 70 cm, and frequency 14 Hz is propagating on a wire with linear density 40 g/m. Find the wave energy per unit length of the wire.

Solution
The average power transmitted by transverse traveling waves in a string is given by Equation 16-8, P = 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 A v = 2 (0.28 kg/m)(23.3 Hz) (0.061 m) 550 N/(0.28 kg/m) = 9.93 W. (We used Equation 16-7 for v.)

Solution
Using the expression found in the solution to the next problem, we nd dE/dx = 1 (0.04 kg/m) 2 (214 Hz)2 (0.05 m)2 = 0.387 J/m.

Problem
37. Figure 16-32 shows a wave train consisting of two cycles of a sine wave propagating along a string. Obtain an expression for the total energy in this wave train, in terms of the string tension F, the wave amplitude A, and the wavelength .
A

Problem
34. A motor drives a mechanism that produces simple harmonic motion at one end of a stretched cable. The frequency of the motion is 30 Hz, and the motor can supply energy at an average rate of 350 W. If the cable has linear density 450 g/m and is under 1.7 kN tension, (a) what is the maximum wave amplitude that can be driven down the cable? (b) If the motor were replaced by a larger one capable of supplying 700 W, how would the maximum amplitude change?

figure 16-32 Problem 37.

Solution
(a) With all the other quantities in Equation 16-8 xed, the amplitude is proportional to the square root of the average power transmitted. If there are no losses, the power transmitted equals the power supplied by the motor, so the maximum wave amplitude is 2P /v/ = 2P / F / = [2(350 W)/ (0.45 kg/m)(1.7 kN)]1/2 /(230 Hz) = 2.67 cm. (Note: v = F from Equation 16-7.) (b) If the motors power is doubled, the maximum amplitude increases by a factor of 2 to 3.77 cm.

Solution
The average wave energy, dE, in a small element of string of length dx, is transmitted in time, dt, at the same speed as the waves, v = dx/dt. From Equa1 tion 16-8, dE = P dt = 1 2 A2 v dt = 2 2 A2 dx, so 2 1 the average linear energy density is dE/dx = 2 2 A2 . The total average energy in a wave train of length = 2 is E = (dE/dx) = 1 2 A2 (2). In terms of 2 the quantities specied in this problem (see Equa tions 16-1 and 7) E = 1 (F/v 2 )(2v/)2 A2 (2) = 2 4 2 F A2 /. (Note: The relation derived can be written as P = (dE/dx)v. For a one-dimensional wave, P is the intensity, so the average intensity equals the

CHAPTER 16 average energy density times the speed of wave energy propagation. This is a general wave property, e.g., see the rst unnumbered equation for S in Section 34-10.)

Problem
42. A 9-W laser produces a beam 2 mm in diameter. Compare its light intensity with that of sunlight at 2 noon, about 1 kW/m .

Problem
38. A steel wire with linear density 5.0 g/m is under 450 N tension. What is the maximum power that can be carried by transverse waves on this wire if the wave amplitude is not to exceed 10% of the wavelength?

Solution
For a beam of constant cross-sectional area, the intensity of the laser beam is 9 W/(1 mm)2 = 2 2.86 MW/m , which is 2.86103 times the given intensity of sunlight at the ground.

Solution
Equation 16-8, written in terms of the tension and wavelength, is P = 1 (F/v 2 )(2v/)2 A2 F/ = 2 2 3/2 1/2 2 F (A/)2 . If A/ < 0.1, then P < 2 2 (450 N)3/2 (0.005 kg/m)1/2 (0.1)2 = 26.6 kW.

Problem
43. Light emerges from a 5.0-mW laser in a beam 1.0 mm in diameter. The beam shines on a wall, producing a spot 3.6 cm in diameter. What are the beam intensities (a) at the laser and (b) at the wall?

Problem
39. A loudspeaker emits energy at the rate of 50 W, spread in all directions. What is the intensity of sound 18 m from the speaker?

Solution
If we assume that the power output of the laser is spread uniformly over the cross-sectional area of its beam, then I = P / 1 d2 . (a) When the beam emerges,
1 I = 5 mW/ 4 (1 mm)2 = 6.37 kW/m , while (b) after its diameter has expanded by 36 times, at the wall, 2 I = I(1/36)2 = 4.91 W/m . 4 2

Solution
The wave power is spread out over a sphere of area 4r2 , so the intensity is 50 W/4(18 m)2 = 2 12.3 mW/m . (See Equation 16-9.)

Problem
40. The light intensity 3.3 m from a light bulb is 2 0.73 W/m . What is the power output of the bulb, assuming it radiates equally in all directions?

Problem
44. A large boulder drops from a cli into the ocean, producing circular waves. A small boat 18 m from the impact point measures the wave amplitude at 130 cm. At what distance will the amplitude be 50 cm?

Solution
From Equation 16-9, P = 4r2 I = 4(3.3 m)2 2 (0.73 W/m ) = 99.9 W 100 W, typical for a lightbulb.

Solution
The intensity of a surface wave decreases inversely with the distance from the source (see diagram), and is proportional to the square of the amplitude. Then A2 1/r or, at two distances from the source, (A/A )2 = r /r. Thus, r = (130/50)2 (18 m) = 122 m for the wave in this problem.

Problem
41. Use data from Appendix E to determine the intensity of sunlight at (a) Mercury and (b) Pluto.

Solution
Equation 16-9 gives the ratio of intensities at two distances from an isotropic source of spherical waves as I2 /I1 = (r1 /r2 )2 . If we use the average intensity of sunlight given in Table 16-1 and mean orbital distances to the sun from Appendix E, we obtain 2 (a) IMerc = IE (rE /rMerc )2 = (1368 W/m )(150 2 2 2 57.9) = 9.18 kW/m , and (b) IPluto = (1368 W/m ) 2 (150/5.91103 )2 = 0.881 W/m . (Alternatively, the luminosity of the sun, P = 3.851026 W, from Appendix E, could be used directly in Equation 16-9, with only slightly dierent numerical results.)

Problem 44 Solution.

CHAPTER 16

Problem
45. Use Table 16-1 to determine how close to a rock band you should stand for it to sound as loud as a jet plane at 200 m. Treat the band and the plane as point sources. Is this assumption reasonable?

Solution
(a) The absolute value of the maximum displacement for each pulse is 2 cm, a value attained when the denominators are minimal (x t = 0 for the rst pulse and x 5 + t = 0 for the second). (b) At t = 0, the peak of the rst pulse is at x = 0 moving in the positive x direction. (x t = 0 represents the peak, so if t increases so does x. This is why a wave traveling in the positive x direction is represented by a function of x vt.) For the second pulse, the peak is at x = 5, moving in the negative x direction, when t = 0 (x 5 + t = 0 implies x = 5 t and dx/dt = 1 < 0). (c) y1 (x, t) + y2 (x, t) = 0 for all values of x implies (x t)2 = (x 5 + t)2 . This is true for all x, only if (x t) = +(x 5 + t) or at t = 5 = 2.5 s. (The other 2 root, (x t) = (x 5 + t), shows that x = 2.5 cm is always a node, i.e., the net displacement there is zero at all times.)

Solution
To have the same loudness, the soundwave intensities should be equal, i.e., Iband (r) = Ijet (200 m). Regarded as isotropic point sources, use of Equation 16-9 gives Pband /r2 = Pjet /(200 m)2 . The average power of each source can be found from Table 16-1 and a second application of Equation 16-9, Pband = 2 2 jet = 4(50 m)2 (10 W/m2 ). 4(4 m) (1 W/m ) and P Then r2 = (Pband /Pjet )(200 m)2 = (200 m)2 (4 m)2 2 2 2 (1 W/m )/(50 m) (10 W/m ), or r = 5.06 m. The size of a rock band is several meters, nearly equal to this distance, so a point source is not a good approximation. Besides, the acoustical output of a rock band usually emanates from an array of speakers, which is not point-like. Moreover, the size of a jet plane is also not very small compared to 50 m.

Problem
48. The triangular wave of Fig. 16-33 can be described by the following sum of simple harmonic terms: y(x) = 8 2 sin x sin 3x sin 5x + . 12 32 52

Section 16-6: The Superposition Principle and Wave Interference Problem

46. Consider two functions f (x vt) and g(x vt) that both satisfy the wave equation (Equation 16-12). Show that their sum also satises the wave equation.

Plot the sum of the rst three terms in this series for x ranging from 0 to 2, and compare with the rst cycle shown in Fig. 16-33. (See also ActivPhysics Activity 10.7.)
y 1 0 1 2 4 x

Solution
The derivative of a sum equals the sum of the derivatives, i.e., 2 (f + g)/x2 = 2 f /x2 + 2 g/x2 , etc., so if f and g satisfy Equation 16-12, so does f + g. (The wave equation is a linear dierential equation, i.e., it does not involve products or powers of the function and its derivatives, so any linear combination of solutions af bg, is itself a solution.)

figure 16-33 Problem 48.

Solution
The amplitudes of the rst three harmonic components are 8/ 2 = 0.81057, 8/9 2 = 0.09006, and 8/25 2 = 0.03243, and their wavelengths are 1 = 33 = 55 . The phases alternate by 180 . A sketch of the components, their superposition, and the rst cycle of the triangular wave is shown.

Problem
47. Two wave pulses are described by y1 (x, t) = 2 2 , y2 (x, t) = , (x t)2 + 1 (x 5 + t)2 + 1

where x and y are in cm and t in seconds. (a) What is the amplitude of each pulse? (b) At t = 0, where is the peak of each pulse, and in what direction is it moving? (c) At what time will the two pulses exactly cancel?

Problem
49. Youre in an airplane whose two engines are running at 560 rpm and 570 rpm. How often do you hear the sound intensity increase as a result of wave interference?

CHAPTER 16 multiple of = 180 in general, insures complete destructive interference.) From Example 16-5, 2 r = 16.0 m, so 2 = 2 r/3 = 5.34 m.

Problem
52. The two loudspeakers shown in Fig. 16-34 emit identical 500-Hz sound waves. Point P is on the rst nodal line of the interference pattern. Use the numbers shown to calculate the speed of the sound waves.

Problem 48 Solution.

Solution
As mentioned in the text, pilots of twin-engine airplanes use the beat frequency to synchronize the rpms of their engines. The beat frequency is simply the dierence of the two interfering frequencies, fbeat = (570 560)/60 s = 1 s1 , so you would hear 6 one beat every six seconds.

figure 16-34 Problem 52.

Problem
50. Two waves have the same angular frequency , wave number k, and amplitude A, but they dier in phase: y1 = A cos(kx t) and y2 = A cos(kx t + ). Show that their superposition is also a simple harmonic wave, and determine its amplitude As as a function of the phase dierence .

Solution
The path dierence between the two loudspeakers and a point on the rst nodal line is one halfwavelength, r = 1 = 1 v/f, or v = 2f r, where 2 2 f is the frequency. From Fig. 16-34 and use of the Pythagorean theorem, v = 2(500 Hz)( (3.5 m)2 + (0.75 m + 0.83 m)2 (3.5 m)2 + (0.83 m 0.75 m)2 ) = 339 m/s.

Solution
Using the identity cos + cos = 2 cos 1 ( ) 2 1 cos 2 ( + ), we nd y1 + y2 = 2A cos 1 cos(kx 2 t + 1 ) As cos(kx t + s ). This shows that the 2 1 amplitude is As = 2A cos 1 , (and also s = 2 ). 2

Section 16-7: The Wave Equation Problem

53. The following equation arises in analyzing the behavior of shallow water: 1 2y 2y = 0, dx2 gh dt2 where h is the equilibrium depth and y the displacement from equilibrium. Give an expression for the speed of waves in shallow water. (Here shallow means the water depth is much less than the wavelength.)

Problem
51. What is the wavelength of the ocean waves in Example 16-5 if the calm water you encounter at 33 m is the second calm region on your voyage from the center line?

Solution
The second node occurs when the path dierence is three half-wavelengths, or AP BP r = 3 2 . (A 2 phase dierence of k2 r = (2/2 )r = 3, or an odd

Solution
The equation given is in the standard form for the onedimensional linear wave equation (Equation 16-12), so

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CHAPTER 16

the wave speed is the reciprocal of the square root of the quantity multiplying 2 y/t2 . Thus v = gh.

Problem
57. A spring of mass m and spring constant k has an unstretched length 0 . Find an expression for the speed of transverse waves on this spring when it has been stretched to a length .

Problem
54. Use the chain rule for dierentiation to show explicitly that any function of the form f (x vt) satises the wave equation (Equation 16-12).

Solution
The spring may be regarded as a stretched string with tension, F = k( 0 ), and linear mass density = m/ . Equation 16-7 gives the speed of transverse waves as v = k ( 0 )/m.

Solution
Let primes denote dierentiation with respect to the whole argument = (x vt). Then the chain rule gives f /x = (df /d)(/x) = f , and 2 f x2 = f . Similarly, f /t = f (v), and 2 f /t2 = v 2 f . Therefore, any function of satises the wave equation 2 f /x2 (1/v 2 ) 2 f /t2 = f (1/v 2 ) v 2 f = 0.

Problem
58. When a 340-g spring is stretched to a total length of 40 cm, it supports transverse waves propagating at 4.5 m/s. When its stretched to 60 cm, the waves propagate at 12 m/s. Find (a) the unstretched length of the spring and (b) its spring constant.

Paired Problems Problem

55. A wave on a taut wire is described by the equation y = 1.5 sin(0.10x 560t), where x and y are in cm and t is in seconds. If the wire tension is 28 N, what are (a) the amplitude, (b) the wavelength, (c) the period, (d) the wave speed, and (e) the power carried by the wave?

Solution
From the solution to the previous problem, mv 2 = k ( 0 ). (a) With v1 and v2 given for 1 and 2 , k may be eliminated by division, before solving for 2 0 : (v2 /v1 ) = 2 ( 2 0 )/ 1 ( 1 0 ) or
0

Solution
The wave has the form of Equation 16-5, with a phase constant of = 90 , y(x, t) = A sin(kx t) = 2 A cos(kx t ). Comparison reveals that 2 k = 0.1 cm1 , = 560 s1 , and (a) A = 1.5 cm (b) = 2/k = 2/(0.1 cm1 ) = 62.8 cm (Equation 16-4). (c) T = 2/ = 2/(560 s1 ) = 11.2 ms (Equation 16-3). (d) v = /k = 56 m/s (Equa1 tion 16-6). (e) P = 2 2 A2 v = 1 (A)2 (F/v) = 2 1 1 0.015 m)2 (28 N)/(56 m/s) = 17.6 W 2 (560 s (Equation 16-8, and Equation 16-7 to eliminate ).

2 2 2 (40) (12/4.5)2 (60)2 cm = 34.7 cm. = (40)(12/4.5)2 (60)

2 2 1 (v2 /v1 ) 2 1 (v2 /v1 ) 2

(b) From either pair of values of wave speed and length, k = mv 2 / ( (0.34 kg)(4.5 m/s)2 (0.4 m)(0.4 m 0.347 m) (0.34 kg)(12 m/s)2 = = 322 N/m. (0.6 m)(0.6 m 0.347 m)
0)

Problem
56. A wave given by y = 23 cos(0.025x 350t), with x and y in mm and t in seconds, is propagating on a cable with mass per unit length 410 g/m. Find (a) the amplitude, (b) the wavelength, (c) the frequency in Hz, (d) the wave speed, and (e) the power carried by the wave.

Problem
59. At a point 15 m from a source of spherical sound waves, you measure a sound intensity of 2 750 mW/m . How far do you need to walk, directly away from the source, until the intensity 2 is 270 mW/m ?

Solution
Inspection of the given function and use of Equations 16-3 through 8 gives (a) A = 23 mm; (b) = 2/k = 2/(0.025 mm1 ) = 25.1 cm; (c) f = /2 = 350 s1 /2 = 55.7 Hz; (d) v = /k = (350 s1 ) 1 (0.025 mm1 ) = 14 m/s; (e) P = 2 2 A2 v = 1 2 2 (0.41 kg/m)(35023 mm/s) (14 m/s) = 186 W.

Solution
The intensity of spherical waves from a point source is given by Equation 16-9. At a distance r1 , I1 = 2 P /4r1 , while after increasing the radial distance by d, I2 = P /4(r1 + d)2 . Dividing and solving for d, one nds d = r1 ( I1 /I2 1) = (15 m)( (750/270) 1) = 10.0 m.

CHAPTER 16

11

Problem
60. Figure 16-35 shows two observers 20 m apart, on a line that connects them and a spherical light source. If the observer nearest the source measures a light intensity 50% greater than the other observer, how far is the nearest observer from the source?

500 Hz, so the percent dierence is (100)f /f = (100)(500 Hz/50 MHz) = 103 %.

Supplementary Problems Problem

63. For a transverse wave on a stretched string, the requirement that the string be nearly horizontal is met if the amplitude is much less than the wavelength. (a) Show this by drawing an appropriate sketch. (b) Show that, under this approximation that A , the maximum speed u of the string must be considerably less than the wave speed v. (c) If the amplitude is not to exceed 1% of the wavelength, how large can the string speed u be in relation to the wave speed v?

20 m

x=?

figure 16-35 Problem 60.

Solution
If we assume the source emits spherical waves, the ratio of the intensities for the two observers is I1 /I2 = (x2 /x1 )2 (Equation 16-9), where the closer observer is at x1 . Then I1 = 1.5I2 and x2 = x1 + 20 m, so this equation becomes (x1 + 20 m)2 = 1.5x2 . The 1 positive solution of this quadratic (when both observers are on the same side of the source) is x1 = 2(20 m)(1 + 3/2) = 89.0 m. (The negative root, 2(20 m)(1 3/2) = 8.99 m, corresponds to observers on opposite sides of the source, i.e., with the lamp in Fig. 16-35 between the two observers.)

Solution
(a) The relative atness or peakedness of a sinusoidal waveform is determined by its maximum slope, |dy/dx|max = |/x[A cos(kx t)]|max = kA = 2(A/). If A (or kA 1), the slope is nearly horizontal. (b) In terms of the speeds, kA = A/v = umax /v, so the string is nearly at if umax v. (c) If A/ < 1%, then umax /v = 2(A/) < 2(1%) = 6.3%.

Problem
61. Two motors in a factory produce sound waves with the same frequency as their rotation rates. If one motor is running at 3600 rpm and the other at 3602 rpm, how often will workers hear a peak in the sound intensity? Problem 63 Solution.

Problem
64. A 64-g spring has unstretched length 25 cm. With a 940-g mass attached, the spring undergoes simple harmonic motion with angular frequency 6.1 s1 . What will be the speed of transverse waves on this spring when its stretched to a total length of 40 cm?

Solution
The beat frequency equals the dierence in the motors rpms, so the period of the beats is Tbeat = 1/fbeat = 1/(3602 3600) min1 = 30 s. (See also Problem 49.)

Problem
62. Two radio waves with frequencies of approximately 50 MHz interfere. The composite wave is detected and fed to a loudspeaker, which emits audible sound at 500 Hz. What is the percentage dierence between the frequencies of the two radio waves?

Solution
When used as a nearly ideal mass-spring system (since the springs mass is much less than the attached mass), 2 = k/m, which allows the spring constant to be determined, k = (0.94 kg)(6.1 s1 )2 . When used in a dierent way to support transverse waves (see Problem 57), v = k ( 0 )/ms = [(0.94 kg) (6.1 s1 )2 (0.4 m)(0.4 m 0.25 m)/(0.064 kg)]1/2 = 5.73 m/s.

Solution
The dierence in the frequencies (really its absolute value) equals the beat frequency, f = fbeat =

12

CHAPTER 16

Problem
65. An ideal spring is compressed until its total length is 1 , and the speed of transverse waves on the spring is measured. When its compressed further to a total length 2 , waves propagate at the same speed. Show that the uncompressed spring length is just 1 + 2 .

Problem
68. Show that the time it takes a wave to propagate up the cable in Problem 32 is t = 2 /g, where is the cable length.

Solution
The wave speed in the cable of Problem 32 was v = dy/dt = gy, where y is the distance from the bottom of the cable. The time for a transverse wave signal to propagate from the bottom to the top (y = 0 to ) is t= dt =
0

Solution
The tension in a compressed spring has magnitude k( 0 ) while its linear mass-density is = m/ . Therefore, the speed of transverse waves is v = F/ = k ( 0 )/m (as in Problem 57 for a stretched spring). If v1 = v2 for two dierent compressed lengths, then 1 ( 0 1 ) = 2 ( 0 2 ) or ( 1 2 ) 0 = 2 2 = ( 1 2 )( 1 + 2 ). Since 1 = 2 , 1 2 division by 1 2 gives 0 = 1 + 2 .

dy = v

1 dy = 2 y gy g

=2
0

Problem
69. In Example 16-5, how much farther would you have to row to reach a region of maximum wave amplitude?

Problem
66. An ideal spring is stretched to a total length 1 . When that length is doubled, the speed of transverse waves on the spring triples. Find an expression for the unstretched length of the spring.

Solution
Utilizing the result of Problem 57, we have v1 = k 1 ( 1 0 )/m and v2 = 3v1 = k2 1 (2 1 0 )/m. 5 Therefore 9 1 ( 1 0 ) = 2 1 (2 1 0 ) or 0 = 7 1 .

Problem
67. A 1-megaton nuclear explosion produces a shock wave whose amplitude, measured as excess air pressure above normal atmospheric pressure, is 2 1.4105 Pa (1 Pa = 1 N/m ) at a distance of 1.3 km from the explosion. An excess pressure of 3.5104 Pa will destroy a typical woodframe house. At what distance from the explosion will such houses be destroyed? Assume the wavefront is spherical.

Solution
The intensity of a spherical wavefront varies inversely with the square of the distance from the central source (see Fig. 16-18b). In general, the intensity is proportional to the amplitude squared, so A 1/r for a spherical wave. (This can be proved rigorously by solution of the spherical wave equation, a generalization of Equation 16-12.) Therefore A1 /A2 = r2 /r1 , or the overpressure reaches the stated limit at a distance r2 = (1.4105 Pa/3.5104 Pa)(1.3 km) = 5.2 km from the explosion. figure 16-36 Problem 69 Solution.

Solution
In general, the interference condition for waves in the geometry of Example 16-5 is AP BP = n/2, where n is an odd integer for destructive interference (a node) and n is an even integer for constructive interference (a maximum amplitude). (In Example 16-5, n = 1 gave the rst node and in Problem 51, n = 3 gave

CHAPTER 16 the second node.) If d = 20 m is the distance between the openings, = 75 m is the perpendicular distance from the breakwater, and x is the distance parallel to the breakwater measured from the midpoint of the openings, the interference condition is
2 + (x = n/2 (see + (x + Fig. 16-36). In this problem, we wish to nd x for the rst maximum, n = 2, and the wavelength calculated in Example 16-5, = 16.01 m. Solving for x, we nd: 2 1 2 2 d) 1 2 2 d)

13

wavelengths of the rst and second nodes, for n = 1 and 3, calculated in Example 16-5 and Problem 51, respectively.)

Problem
70. Suppose the wavelength of the ocean waves in Example 16-5 were 8.4 m. How far would you have to row from the center line, staying 75 m from the breakwater, in order to nd (a) the rst and (b) the second region of relative calm?

x2 =

+ ( 1 d)2 ( 1 n)2 ] 2 4 (2d/n)2 1 [(75)2 + (10)2 (8.005)2 ] m2 = = (100.5 m)2 . (40/32.02)2 1 [

2

Solution
From the general solution for x in the previous problem, (a) x = 16.2 m to the rst node (n = 1), and (b) x = 61.2 m to the second node (n = 3). (Use = 75 m, d = 20 m, and = 8.4 m for the other values.)

This is 100.5 m 33 m = 67.5 m farther than the rst node in Example 16-5. (Note: We rounded o to three gures; if you round o to two gures, the answer is 67 m. Also, if x = 33 m is substituted into the general interference condition, one can recapture the