Mechanical waves-relation between frequency and power

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between frequency and power in mechanical waves, specifically addressing how waves of different frequencies can be generated with the same energy and amplitude. Participants explore the implications of wave properties and the role of the medium in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that higher energy in a wave corresponds to higher amplitude but questions how two waves with different frequencies can have the same energy and amplitude.
  • Several participants reference external resources to clarify concepts related to wave energy and frequency.
  • Another participant challenges the idea of holding wavelength constant while changing frequency, asserting that this is contradictory.
  • A participant suggests that to maintain the same energy and amplitude while changing frequency, one must alter the parameters of the medium, such as stiffness and density.
  • There is a clarification regarding a previous typo, where a participant corrects their statement from wavelength to velocity and medium.
  • One participant expresses that after reviewing the provided link, they gained a better understanding of the topic, affirming their original point as correct.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views regarding the relationship between frequency, amplitude, and energy in mechanical waves. There is no consensus on the accuracy of the initial claims about maintaining constant properties while varying frequency.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the implications of wave properties and the role of the medium, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of energy, amplitude, and frequency in this context.

frequency__
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so i do understand clearly that the higher the energy of a wave , the higher the amplitude ... but what i was not understanding is how we can create a wave that performs 50 oscillations per second with the same amount of energy that we use to form 1 oscillations per second , with both waves of same amplitude?
 
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anorlunda said:
:welcome:

Try this link. The explanation there may help.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/waves/powstr.html
thank you that helped a lot :D , but i still lack some understanding , is the concept that with the same amount of energy you could create 2 waves with the same properties( amplitude , wave length , ect...) but different frequencies really accurate , because from your helpful answer that allowed me to better understand it , it seems to be not really accurate , thanks in advance :)
 
frequency__ said:
thank you that helped a lot :D , but i still lack some understanding , is the concept that with the same amount of energy you could create 2 waves with the same properties( amplitude , wave length , ect...) but different frequencies really accurate , because from your helpful answer that allowed me to better understand it , it seems to be not really accurate , thanks in advance :)

You are contradicting yourself. Wave length is the reciprocal of frequency, so you can't hold wave length constant while changing frequency.

Go back and look at the link one more time carefully. Mathematical equations convey the message more clearly than natural language. Study the equations and their implications and you can answer your own question.
 
anorlunda said:
You are contradicting yourself. Wave length is the reciprocal of frequency, so you can't hold wave length constant while changing frequency.

Go back and look at the link one more time carefully. Mathematical equations convey the message more clearly than natural language. Study the equations and their implications and you can answer your own question.
oh sorry it was a typo , i meant velocity and medium , ect... but thank you i will review it few more times for sure :)
 
If you want to have the same energy for the same amplitude but different frequencies you will need to change the parameters of the medium.
If you increase frequency of the waves, in order to keep the energy and amplitude constant you need to change the parameters describing the stiffness and density of the medium. Think about a medium less stiff or less dense (or both). You can intuitively understand that a less stiff medium will result in lower potential energy of the wave and a less dense medium will lover the kinetic energy. Of course, for a wave in medium we usually discuss the energy density.
 
nasu said:
If you want to have the same energy for the same amplitude but different frequencies you will need to change the parameters of the medium.
If you increase frequency of the waves, in order to keep the energy and amplitude constant you need to change the parameters describing the stiffness and density of the medium. Think about a medium less stiff or less dense (or both). You can intuitively understand that a less stiff medium will result in lower potential energy of the wave and a less dense medium will lover the kinetic energy. Of course, for a wave in medium we usually discuss the energy density.
yes after reviewing the link , my friend over there provided i was able to develop a much greater understanding of it , thanks for your answer though ! it was able to mark my point as correct :)
 

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