Transverse Velocity of Wave, given position & time

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the transverse velocity of a wave given its position and time. The subject area includes wave mechanics, specifically harmonic waves and their properties such as amplitude, angular frequency, and wave number.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between wave parameters and the transverse velocity. Questions arise regarding the correctness of the calculations, the significance of the phase constant, and the implications of the wave's displacement at specific points.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing guidance on checking assumptions and clarifying the mathematical form of the wave equation. There is recognition of potential rounding errors affecting the results, and the discussion is open to further exploration of the problem's parameters.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem specifies a transverse sine wave with particular characteristics, including amplitude and wavelength, and that the phase constant may be assumed to be zero based on the context provided.

Ryaners
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Can't see where I'm going wrong here - would greatly appreciate if anyone can point it out!

I've gotten the other parts of the question right, so I know that:
ω = 125.66 rad/s
A = 2.50 * 10-3m
k = 3.49 rad/m
The wave is moving in the +x direction.

The general equation for the position of a particle on the wave is:
y(x,t) = Acos(kx - ωt)

So this means (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the transverse velocity of a particle on the wave is:
Vy(x,t) = ωAsin(kx - ωt) = (125.66)((2.50 * 10-3m)sin(3.49x - 125.66t)

I'm asked to find Vy at x = 1.35m, t = 0.0625s.
For this I got 2.07*10-4m/s, but I'm told this is incorrect. Where am I going wrong?
 
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Hello. Check to see if you have the overall correct sign for your answer.

The most general equation for a harmonic wave traveling in the positive x direction is y = Acos(kx-ωt+φ) where φ is a phase constant. Do you know if you are supposed to assume that the phase constant is zero in this problem? It's always a good idea to state the problem word-for-word so that we can be sure that we have all of the information.
 
Thanks for the response TSny. Here's the full text of the question:

"A transverse sine wave with an amplitude of
2.50 mm and a wavelength of 1.80 m travels from left to right along a long, horizontal stretched string with a speed of 36.0 m/s. Take the origin at the left end of the undisturbed string. At time t=0 the left end of the string has its maximum upward displacement."

I had to 'give up' on the question & the answer given was v = 0m/s - I could then see that the part of the question immediately before - which asked for the displacement of a particle at the same position & time - was exactly equal to the amplitude, so I probably should have realized that the velocity should be 0 there. I'm still puzzled as to why my calculation didn't give that answer though - rounding error, I suppose?
 
OK. The information given in the problem implies that the phase constant φ is zero. So, you have the correct mathematical form for the wave. Yes, I think your answer differs from zero due to round-off error. Try working the problem by expressing k and ω in terms of ##\pi##. Then when you evaluate the argument of the cosine function for the specific values of x and t given, you can get the argument in terms of ##\pi##.

Anyway, your method was correct. :smile:
 
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Thank you :) I'll give that a go when I've gotten through all of my other assignments...
 

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