- #1
Enterprise D
- 8
- 0
Hi,
I have recently been studying waves, and I understand the transversal wave formula
y=Asin(w(t-x/v))
which gives the y coordinate of a point at x along the x-axis in the instant t.
However, Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_wave) gives this as the equation for longitudinal waves too.
If this is true, what does y represent? The displacement of a point relative to what? Also, does anyone know how to derive this formula specifically for longitudinal waves?
Thanks very much!
I have recently been studying waves, and I understand the transversal wave formula
y=Asin(w(t-x/v))
which gives the y coordinate of a point at x along the x-axis in the instant t.
However, Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_wave) gives this as the equation for longitudinal waves too.
If this is true, what does y represent? The displacement of a point relative to what? Also, does anyone know how to derive this formula specifically for longitudinal waves?
Thanks very much!