# Displacement amplitude

1. May 8, 2010

### roam

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A travelling sound wave causes a variation in air pressure according to the equation:

∆P = 20.0 sin(15.5x − 5.32 × 103t )

where x is in metres, t in seconds and pressure is in pascals.

What is the amplitude of the displacement of the air particles caused by this pressure wave (i.e. the displacement amplitude)?

Take ρair=1.21 kgm–3.

2. Relevant equations

Pressure amplitude is related to displacement amplitude by

$$\Delta P_{max}= \rho v \omega s_{max}$$

3. The attempt at a solution

I know that the angular frequency ω of the pressure wave is 5320.0 rads–1, and the velocity v of the pressure wave is 343.0 ms–1. But I can't use the formula above because I can't determine the value of $$\Delta P_{max}$$.

How can I find $$\Delta P_{max}$$ from

∆P = 20.0 sin(15.5x − 5.32 × 103t )

when I don't know the values of "x" and "t"? What values do I need to substitute there?

2. May 8, 2010

### rock.freak667

∆P is sinusoidal, what is the maximum value that sine of anything can take?

3. May 8, 2010

### roam

I think the maximum value for sine is 1. So we must have:

(15.5x − 5.32 × 103t ) =1

Okay, then we get:

∆Pmax = 20.0 sin(1)= 0.34

$$\Delta P_{max}= \rho v \omega s_{max}$$

$$0.34= 1.21 \times 343 \times 5320 S_{max}$$

$$S_{max} = \frac{0.34}{2207959.6}= 1.53 \times 10^{-7}$$

But this is not the correct answer, the correct answer must be 9.05 μm. What am I doing wrong here??

4. May 8, 2010

### rock.freak667

Yes.

If the maximum of sine is 1, then shouldn't sin(15.5x − 5.32 × 103t ) =1?

5. May 9, 2010

### roam

Thank you so much!