Why does the soundwave reach its maximum at 3.5ms and a distance of 0.157m?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of a sound wave, specifically why it reaches its maximum amplitude at 3.5 milliseconds and a distance of 0.157 meters from the point of origin. Participants explore the relationship between time, distance, and wave properties such as wavelength and period.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the initial conditions of the sound wave, noting that it starts at a minimum amplitude (-A) and questions why it reaches maximum amplitude (A) at 3.5 ms and 0.157 m.
  • Another participant explains the propagation of the wave, suggesting that at 0.157 m, the particle is at y=0 at t=0, then moves to -A after 0.5 ms, reaches A after 1 ms, and returns to A after a total of 3.5 ms, indicating no issues with the timing.
  • A different participant reiterates the wave's behavior, emphasizing that the position at 0.157 m is y=0 at t=0, and clarifies the timing of the wave's maximum amplitude.
  • One participant introduces a phase formula to analyze the wave's behavior, calculating the phase at different times and distances, concluding that the events are out of phase, which explains the transition from -A to +A.
  • Another participant provides a wave equation to describe the sound wave mathematically, hinting at potential truncation errors in calculations for large time values.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of the wave's behavior at specific times and distances. While some agree on the mathematical approach to understanding the wave's phase, others question the initial conditions and timing, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific values for wavelength and period, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the initial conditions and the interpretation of wave propagation at different points in time.

nuuskur
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Given a soundwave with wavelength ##\lambda = 0,628 m## and a period ##T = 2 ms##.
The stopper is started at the exact moment when the wave is at its minimum, call it ##-A##. After ##3.5ms## and ##0,157m## from the point of origin, the wave has reached its maximum, ##A##.

Why is it so?
According to my reasoning the wave has reached 0 at that time. It takes the ##2ms## to reach minimum again and then with the remaining ##1.5ms## it reaches 0 with the first ##0.5ms##, then the maximum after ##1ms## and then 0 again after ##1.5ms##, but this is incorrect.

Edit: I would understand if we were given just the distance it has traveled in which case it would have traveled exactly a fourth from the point of origin and therefore reaching its maximum, but then why the ##3.5ms##?
 
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think of the appearance of the wave, say it moves towards you, particles are propagating along y direction. When you are at 0.157m away, at t=0, you should see this point is y=0. After 0.5ms, the particle will have y= -A, then after 1ms, the particle will have y=A. Then after one more period, 2ms, that is totally 3.5ms, that particle will have y=A, which is maximum.
so it seems that it has no problem.

Edit: sound wave is not transfer wave, but I used transfer wave to explain, but they should have same result.
 
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sunmaggot said:
think of the appearance of the wave, say it moves towards you, particles are propagating along y direction. When you are at 0.157m away, at t=0, you should see this point is y=0. After 0.5ms, the particle will have y= -A, then after 1ms, the particle will have y=A. Then after one more period, 2ms, that is totally 3.5ms, that particle will have y=A, which is maximum.
so it seems that it has no problem.

Edit: sound wave is not transfer wave, but I used transfer wave to explain, but they should have same result.
Doesn't it say at t=0 y=-A?
 
nuuskur said:
Doesn't it say at t=0 y=-A?
that one is for particle position at stopper, but remember that 0.157m? the position 0.157m away from stopper has particle at y=0 when t=0
 
You can just use the formula for the phase, no need to guess.
You have [tex]\phi =\omega t - k x =2 \pi (\frac{t}{T}-\frac{x}{\lambda})[/tex].
For t=0 and x=0 you have [tex]\phi_1 =0[/tex]
For the values given in OP, you have [tex]\phi_2 = 2 \pi (\frac{3.5}{2}-\frac{0.175}{0.628})=3 \pi[/tex]
Multiples of 2Π do not change the wave at all. So this is an actual change of Π which means that the two events are in opposition of phase. So from -A it goes to +A.

If you still want to describe it "in two pieces", the x2=0.157m is one quarter wavelength. So at t=0, and x1=0, the wave at x2=0.175 m goes through zero, towards negative values.
First time it will reach +A will be after 3/4 of a period. Next time it will reach the same value will be after 3/4+1 period or 1.75 periods or 3.5 ms.
 
Like @nasu, your wave equation is:
$$ y(x,t) = A\sin(1000\pi{t}-10x) $$

Edit: if demand to calculate values for large time (t>10T), some programs makes truncation error mistakes.
 

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