# Questions of a wave formula

hotmail590
Wave forumla: y(x,t) = Asin(kx-wt)

[] Which variables (x, t, A, k, w) are independent?

Would k be the only independent variable since it is a constant?
However I am not too sure what exactly does the k represents.
Can someone please clear that up for me?

[] Which of the following are parameters that determine the characteristics of the wave? x only, t only, A only, k only, w only, x and t, w and t, A and k and w.

Would A and k and w determine th characteristics of the wave?
I know that A is the amplitude of the wave and w is the angular frequency
of the wave so those 2 has to be characteristics of the wave.

[] What is the phase of the wave?

That would be (kx-wt) right?

[] What is the wavelength of the wave?

Would that be 2pi/k?

[] What is the period of this wave?

Would that be 2pi/w?

[] How do I find the speed of propagation v of this wave?

hotmail590

SteveDB
WAve function components.

hotmail590 said:
Wave forumla: y(x,t) = Asin(kx-wt)

A can be a function of both time, and space(A(x,t)) unless specifically stated otherwise. It is typically the amplitude, or height of the wave form.
w (omega) is a radian/second-- angular velocity-- function.
k is the restoring force component for an oscillation. It is also noted to be the wave # in optics. In standard oscillations, it's the above stated item.
I.e., it has the property of pulling the oscillation back to zero. We call is the "spring Constant."

l is the wavelength. It is defined by the values-- 2pi*nu/w

[] Which variables (x, t, A, k, w) are independent?

Would k be the only independent variable since it is a constant?
However I am not too sure what exactly does the k represents.
Can someone please clear that up for me?

[] Which of the following are parameters that determine the characteristics of the wave? x only, t only, A only, k only, w only, x and t, w and t, A and k and w.

Would A and k and w determine th characteristics of the wave?
I know that A is the amplitude of the wave and w is the angular frequency
of the wave so those 2 has to be characteristics of the wave.
Each of the items create a specific aspect to the wave. If any of them are different, you'll have a different form on some level.

[] What is the phase of the wave?

That would be (kx-wt) right?

[] What is the wavelength of the wave?

Would that be 2pi/k?--
look at the units of each element

[] What is the period of this wave?

Would that be 2pi/w?

[] How do I find the speed of propagation v of this wave?

Take the time derivative of A*sin(kx-wt)= -w*A cos(kx-wt)
remember, w = rad/sec. Radians are unitless. A has units of length. the sine function is also unitless. Therefore, -w*A... has units of m/s. In this case, the velocity is negative because the angular velocity is negative.