# Equations for the velocity of progressive travelling waves

LCSphysicist
Homework Statement:
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Relevant Equations:
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Someone know how to derive v = √(T/μ) for waves traveling? (without being by dimensional analyse)

Look into the wave equation, ##\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2} = v^2\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial x^2}##. The classic way of deriving this for a transverse wave on a tensioned string is to consider a small element like this

such that the tensions on either end are approximately equal, and both angles are small. The linear density of string is ##\mu##, although as it happens it is easier, at least first off, to neglect the contribution of the weight of the element to the resultant force. Try to apply Newton's second law in the vertical direction!

N.B. you might wonder what would happen if we don't neglect the weight. Actually, nothing much, except the wave equation now contains a constant source term.

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berkeman
LCSphysicist
Look into the wave equation, ##\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2} = v^2\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial x^2}##. The classic way of deriving this for a transverse wave on a tensioned string is to consider a small element like this

View attachment 266517

such that the tensions on either end are approximately equal, and both angles are small. The linear density of string is ##\mu##, although as it happens it is easier, at least first off, to neglect the contribution of the weight of the element to the resultant force. Try to apply Newton's second law in the vertical direction!

N.B. you might wonder what would happen if we don't neglect the weight. Actually, nothing much, except the wave equation now contains a constant source term.

I see what you want yo say, we will get:
##\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2} = T/μ\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial x^2}##

The problem is exactly this, we just pick T/μ and assume as the ##v^2##

We just assume it by the dimensional analyse

Okay, let's run it through first, $$T\sin{\theta_2} - T\sin{\theta_1} \approx T\left[ \tan{\theta_2} - \tan{\theta_1} \right] = (\mu dx) \frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2}$$Since ##\tan{\theta} = \frac{\partial y}{\partial x}##,$$T[\tan{\theta_2} - \tan{\theta_1}] = T\left[\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial x^2} dx \right] = \mu dx \frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2}$$ $$\frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2} = \frac{T}{\mu} \frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial x^2}$$as you inferred. But notice that this differential permits solutions of traveling waves of the form$$y(x,t) = A\sin{(kx - \omega t + \phi)}$$with a phase velocity of ##v_p = \sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}} = \frac{\omega}{k}##. There is no need for any dimensional methods, or the like!

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