- #1
Owen-
- 40
- 0
After looking at my notes and http://cnx.org/content/m16027/latest/" I have become utterly confused about Energy transmission in Waves.
What? In a traveling wave KE=PE?
If so, when a particle is at its max displacement, KE=PE=0 and so KE+PE=0
and yet then a particle is as its mean position KE=PE= constant >0
How is this possible? KE+PE is total energy, shouldn't this be constant? I.e. when KE increases PE decreases but total energy remains the same?
Apologies if this is a stupid question :P
Owen.
Since the expression of elastic potential energy is same as that of kinetic energy
What? In a traveling wave KE=PE?
If so, when a particle is at its max displacement, KE=PE=0 and so KE+PE=0
and yet then a particle is as its mean position KE=PE= constant >0
How is this possible? KE+PE is total energy, shouldn't this be constant? I.e. when KE increases PE decreases but total energy remains the same?
Apologies if this is a stupid question :P
Owen.
Last edited by a moderator: