What is Transverse wave: Definition and 104 Discussions
In physics, a transverse wave is a wave whose oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of the wave's advance. This kind of wave is marked by crests and troughs, where the medium oscillates to and fro , respectively ,normal to the direction of propagation. This is in contrast to a longitudinal wave which travels in the direction of its oscillations.
A simple example is given by the waves that can be created on a horizontal length of string by anchoring one end and moving the other end up and down.
Another example is the waves that are created on the membrane of a drum. The waves propagate in directions that are parallel to the membrane plane, but the membrane itself gets displaced up and down, perpendicular to that plane.
Light is another example of a transverse wave, where the oscillations are the electric and magnetic fields, which point at right angles to the ideal light rays that describe the direction of propagation.
Transverse waves commonly occur in elastic solids due to the shear stress generated; the oscillations in this case are the displacement of the solid particles away from their relaxed position, in directions perpendicular to the propagation of the wave. These displacements correspond to a local shear deformation of the material. Hence a transverse wave of this nature is called a shear wave. Since fluids cannot resist shear forces while at rest, propagation of transverse waves inside the bulk of fluids is not possible. In seismology, shear waves are also called secondary waves or S-waves.
Transverse waves are contrasted with longitudinal waves, where the oscillations occur in the direction of the wave. The standard example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave or "pressure wave" in gases, liquids, or solids, whose oscillations cause compression and expansion of the material through which the wave is propagating. Pressure waves are called "primary waves", or "P-waves" in geophysics.
Homework Statement
The transverse displacement of a harmonic wave on a stretched rope is y = 0.06 cos(2.1 t - 3.8 x), where x and y are in meters and t is in seconds. A 5 meter length of this rope has a mass of 1.5 kg...
Homework Statement
What phase difference between two otherwise identical traveling waves, moving in the same direction along a stretched string, will result in the combined wave having an amplitude 1.3 times that of the common amplitude of the two combining waves? Express your answer in (a)...
I need to know the propagation velocity of a transverse wave on a long thin bar or rod. In terms of material properties, such as E and density, and in terms of geometry such as I (2nd moment of area).
I'm a physics grad, so reasonably versed in such things. But can neither find nor derive...
A copper wire, whose cross sectional area is 1.1 x 10 ^ -6 m^2, has a linear density of 7.0 x 10^-3 Kg/m and is strung between two walls. At the ambient temperature, a transverse wave travels with a speed of 46 m/s on this wire. The coefficient of linear expansion for copper is 17 x 10^-6 , and...
A copper wire, whose cross sectional area is 1.1 x 10 ^ -6 m^2, has a linear density of 7.0 x 10^-3 Kg/m and is strung between two walls. At the ambient temperature, a transverse wave travels with a speed of 46 m/s on this wire. The coefficient of linear expansion for copper is 17 x 10^-6 , and...
Homework Statement
A 2kg mass is suspended from a stell wire with a diameter 1mm and a length 0.75m. Caclulate the speed of the transverse wave along the wire.
Homework Equations
v = root(FL/mass)
where F - force of tension, L - length of wire, mass is mass.
The Attempt at a...
Homework Statement
A transverse wave on a string is described by the wave function: y=(0.120m)sin(\frac{\Pi}{8}x+4\Pit) Determine the transverse speed and acceleration of the string at t=0.200s for the point on the string located at x=1.60m. What are the wavelength, period, and speed of...
Homework Statement
A wire that is 10 m long and has a uniform density(u) of 7.75 g/cm^3 is pulled to a tension of F=80 N. The wire, however, does not have a uniform thickness; rather, it varies uniformly from an initial radius of 1mm to a radius of 3mm where it is attached to a wall. If you...
Homework Statement
The drawing shows a snapshot of a transverse wave traveling along a string at 8.8 m/s. The equation for the wave is y(x, t) = A cos (wt + kx).
(a) Is the wave moving to the right or to the left?
To the left
(b) What are the numerical values of A, w, and k...
A wooden bar when struck vibrates as a transverse standing wave with three antinodes and two nodes. The lowest frequency note is 43.6 Hz, produced by a bar 55.4 cm long. Find the speed of transverse waves on the bar.
I assumed that 3 antinodes and 2 nodes means the eigenfrequency...
A transverse wave in a wire with a linear density 2.35 g/m has the form y(x,t) = (1.4 cm)sin[(5.45 m-1)x−(6950 s-1)t].
What is the tension?
I took the A=.014m, k=5.45 /m, and \omega=6950.
I used the formula for the max velocity = A\omega
v=(.014)(6950)=97.3
Then I used the formula...
Homework Statement
Transverse waves on a string have wave speed 8.00 {\rm m/s}, amplitude 0.0700 {\rm m}, and wavelength 0.320 {\rm m}. These waves travel in the x direction, and at t = 0 the x = 0 end of the string is at y = 0 and moving downward.
Find the frequency of these waves...
Homework Statement
A transverse wave on a rope is given by the following equation.
y(x, t) = ( 0.710 cm ) cos pi [(0.400 cm^-1)x + (500 s^-1)t]
From this, find the amplitude, period, frequency, wavelength and the speed of propogation.
Homework Equations
Well, I know that...
Here's the question:
The transverse wave shown is traveling from left to right in a medium. The direction of the instantaneous velocity of the medium at point P is:
A. no direction since v = 0
B. to the right
C. upwards
D. at an angle upwards and to the right
E. downwards...
Hello. I'm having some difficulty with a question from Optics (4th edition, Hecht).
http://milicioner.hit.bg/newphysicsquestion.GIF
I included the answer in the same image (it is at the end of the book), but I can't understand why (-E/(rsqr2))i must be negative.
Thank you
Homework Statement
Monochromatic transverse wave is propagating
in the positive x direction on a string (neither end is fixed).
The wave velocity is 12 m/s, amplitude 0.05 m, and wavelength is 0.4 m.
At t=0 and x=0 the string altitude is 0, and moving in
the positive y direction [i.e...
a string of length l and mass m hangs freely from a fixed point
calculate the velocity of the transverse wave at any position
sol:
mass per unit length is m/l
let there be a point on the string at a distance x from free end
tension at the point=wt of the string per unit length*part of the...
Homework Statement
Having two identical waves, knowing how much they're out of phase with each other, how can I know the amplitude of the resulting wave (as a factor of the original amplitude)?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
A transverse wave on a rope is given by y(x, t)=
(0.750\; {\rm cm})\, \cos ( \, \pi [(0.400\;{\rm cm}^{ - 1})x+(250\; {\rm s}^{ - 1})t])
Find the period.
This should be simple, but I keep getting the wrong answer in Mastering Physics. I can't find any explanation in my book, and it's...
Homework Statement
The left-hand end of a long horizontal stretched cord oscillates transversely in SHM with frequency f = 250 Hz and amplitude 2.6 cm. The cord is under a tension of 140 N and has a linear density \mu = 0.12 kg/m. At t = 0, the end of the cord has an upward displacement 1.6...
Homework Statement
A Transverse wave on a string is described by this function :
y=.25(meters) sin[\frac{\pi(4)}{8} + \pi4t]
a.) Find the speed of the wave at t= 2sec
b.) Find the acceleration at t= 2sec
Homework Equations
y=.25 sin[\frac{\pi(4)}{8} + 4\pit]
The Attempt at a Solution...
Homework Statement
A periodic transverse wave is established on a string such that there are exactly two cycles traveling along a 3.0m section of the string. The crests move at 20 m/s. What is the frequency of the wave?
Homework Equations
?
The Attempt at a Solution
Dont know how...
A transverse wave is traveling on a string. The displacement y of a particle from its equilibrium position is given by y = (0.0230 m) sin (34.6t - 2.04x). Note that the phase angle 34.6t - 2.04x is in radians, t is in seconds, and x is in meters. The linear density of the string is 1.90 x 10-2...
Homework Statement
A transverse wave on a string is described by the wave function
y = (.120m) sin(pie/8 + 4pie(t))
(a) Determine the transverse speed and acceleration of an element of the
string at t=0.200s for the point on the string located at 1.60m
(b) What are the wavelength...
Homework Statement
Problem: http://img355.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a3physicsfa1.png
Homework Equations
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Waves/powstr.html
The Attempt at a Solution
Yeah, can someone help me exactly to find the velocity I need in order to plug it into...
Homework Statement
A transverse traveling wave on a cord is represented by D = 0.38sin(5.1x+30t) where D and x are in meters and t is in seconds. Determine maximum and minimum speeds of particles of the cord.
Homework Equations
First derivative
The Attempt at a Solution
I took...
Homework Statement
Consider a string of total length L, made up of three segments of equal length. The mass per unit length of the first segment is mu, that of the second is 2*mu, and that of the third mu/4. The third segment is tied to a wall, and the string is stretched by a force of...
Homework Statement
Algebra based physics: A 23 kg mass is suspended from the bottom of a rope of length 2.4 m and mass 17 kg. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
Find time for a transverse wave to travel the length of the rope. Answer in units of sec.
Homework Equations
u= mass...
I'm trying to calculate transverse wave speed for a point on a taut string when the y displacement is 12.0 cm. The given wave function is 15.0 cm cos(Pi*x-15Pi*t), and that is all I am given. How do you do this?
[SOLVED] mechanical waves
Homework Statement
A sinusoidal transverse wave is traveling along a string in the negative direction of an x-axis. The figure shows a plot of the displacement as a function of position at time t=0; the y-intercept is 4.0m. The string tension is 6.8N, and its linear...
A transverse wave on a string is described by the following wave function.
y = (0.100 m) sin [(x/11 + 3t)]
(a) Determine the transverse speed and acceleration at t = 0.150 s for the point on the string located at x = 1.60 m.
(b) What are the wavelength, period, and speed of propagation of...
Homework Statement
If the combined string is under tension F, how much time does it take a transverse wave to travel the entire length 3L? Give your answer in terms of L, F, and mu_1.
Three pieces of string, each of length L, are joined together end-to-end, to make a combined string of...
Homework Statement
The function y(x, t) = (15.0 cm) cos(\pix - 12\pit), with x in meters and t in seconds, describes a wave on a taut string. What is the transverse speed for a point on the string at an instant when that point has the displacement y = 12.0 cm?
Homework Equations
I know...
Transverse wave problem... It's a doozy!
Homework Statement
A certain transverse wave is described by the equation,
y(x,t)=(2 m) sin[(174.5 s -1)t - (22.44 m-1) x]. What is the frequency,wave's period, wavelength, and wave speed?
Homework Equations
v=wavelength * f= wavelength/T...
I am deriving the equation for a transverse wave velocity from the difference in the transverse forces acting on a string. ie. v=(F/Greek letter mu)^(1/2) :redface:
First of all, can I clear up that this refers to transverse velocity yes, and not phase velocity? (My book isn't clear).These...
Homework Statement
2. The attempt at a solution
i thought it was number one...as we have -4.5m/s in the equation indicating that the pulse is moving in the negative direction.. i submitted the answer.unfortunately it was incorrect..
Can you help me with this..if possible.
[SOLVED] Transverse Wave on a Hanging Cord
Problem. A uniform cord of length L and mass m is hung vertically from a support. (a) Show that the speed of tranverse waves in this cord is \sqrt{gh} where h is the height above the lower end. (b) How long does it take for a pulse to travel upward...
Homework Statement
A sinusoidal traveling transverse string wave has a frequency of 10.0 Hz and travels at 25.0m/s along the x-axis. Loacte the points on the string that have maximum speed at any given time.
Homework Equations
I know that v= wavelength / T = wavelength * f
The...
Homework Statement
Three pieces of string, each of length L, are joined together end-to-end, to make a combined string of length . The first piece of string has mass per unit length mu_1, the second piece has mass per unit length mu_1*4.00 , and the third piece has mass per unit length...
1. Consider a transverse wave represented by the function
y = 2.3 sin(1.9x - 25t)
where y, x, t are in meters, meters, and seconds
Determine the speed in m/s
2. No relevant equations.
3. I don't understand the way this problem is written. It seems like...
Can anyone tell me the difference between logitudinal and transverse wave?
Could we actaully tell the difference from their given wave equation? :confused:
Hello,
I have a couple of questions about my assignment. Here are the assigned questions plus my attempts.
1) One end of a rope is tied to a stationary support at the top of a
vertical mine shaft 80.0 m deep. The rope is stretched taut by a box of mineral samples with a mass of 20.0 kg...
I don't have my textbook any more, but I remember a question in there about this. I think it asked for the difference between people in a stadium 'doing the wave', and a real transverse wave. I couldn't really think of why they're different. I mean they're pretty similar, right? The people...
A hand holding a rope moves up and down to create a transverse wave on the rope. The hand completes an oscillation in 1.4 s, and the wave travels along the string at 0.6 m/s. The amplitude of the wave is 0.1 m. The frequency at which the crests pass a given point in space is 0.7143 Hz. The...
Suppose a light wave is traveling in the z-direction.
Then the Electric field is in the x direction, and the B field is in the y direction.
My understanding is that these E and B fields are independent of the x and y directions, respectively. This is to say, that if I take the partial...
1) A transverse wave of frequency 25 Hz propa-
gates down a string. Two points 30 cm apart
are out of phase by (5*pi)/3
What is the wave length of the wave? An-
swer in units of cm.
Im kinda lost here, I am unsure how wave length will relate to the given info. I am sure the phase is...
I'm having some trouble with oscillatory motion...
"A transverse wave on a string is described by the equation
y(x, t) = (0.350 m)sin [(1.25 rad/m)x + (99.6 rad/s)t]
Consider the element of the string at x = 0. (a) What is the time interval between the first two instants when this element...
Here is a transverse wave problem:
Consider transverse waves moving along a stretched spring fixed to an oscillator. Suppose the mass of the spring is 10 grams, its relaxed (not stretched) length is 1.00 meters, and its spring constant (if stretched) is 5.0 N/cm. The spring is tensioned via...
The transverse displacement (in cm) of a taut string carrying a sinusoidalwave is measured at points along its length close compared to the wavelength of the wave, and at time intervals small compared with the period of the wave. The results are: SEE ATTACHMENT
Determine the values a,b,c,d...