- #1
QuarkCharmer
- 1,051
- 3
Homework Statement
Not a homework problem, just a general question that I find confusing.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
So, back in Trigonometry and Classical Mechanics I learned that the equation that best represents a wave. Now, Solving the differential equation that is the wave function gives this:
[tex]f(x,t)=Y_{m}cos(kx-ωt)[/tex]
What has me confused is the new "phase", specifically that it's not ωt+[itex]\phi[/itex].
I gather that k is the wave number, well, the number of wavelengths per unit distance, x is the distance down the wave of course. ω is now the Angular Frequency (not velocity!), which is simply the number of rotations per unit time more or less. So if ω is 2π over the period, what exactly is that other t representing? Seems like it's unit would cancel with ω which is clearly desired, but I just don't see how this whole thing is working exactly.
I can do any of the rote number-plugging homework problems assigned to me, but I simply don't see the relationship between this newer (for me) wave funtion and the one with [itex]\phi[/itex] that I am more familiar with. I can't even find a resource outside my text pertaining to this equation, all searches yield the equation with phi.