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Why is it that the amplitude of an harmonic spherical wave decreases with increasing r, while this is not the case for an harmonic plane wave?
Spherical waves are waves that spread out from a single point source and travel in all directions, while plane waves are waves that travel in a straight line without spreading out.
The amplitude of a spherical wave decreases as the distance from the source increases, while the amplitude of a plane wave remains constant regardless of distance.
The difference in amplitude is due to the spreading out of energy in spherical waves, as well as the conservation of energy in plane waves.
Yes, this difference is commonly observed in various phenomena such as sound and light waves. For example, a light bulb produces spherical waves while a laser produces plane waves.
Understanding this difference is crucial in many fields of science, including acoustics, optics, and seismology. It allows scientists to accurately measure and predict the behavior of waves in different scenarios, leading to advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of the natural world.