Cornell University

Department of Physics

Phys 214 September 8, 2003

Waves, Optics, and Particles, Fall 2003

Homework Assignment # 3

(Due Thursday, September 18 at 5:00pm sharp.)

Agenda and readings for the week of September 15:

Skills to be mastered:

• be able to use complex representation to solve differential equations;

• be able to convert between wavelength ($\lambda$), wavenumber or spatial frequency ( $\kappa =1/\lambda$), and propagation number ( $k= 2\pi/\lambda$);

• given the wave speed ($v$) and any one of the quantities ($T$, $f$, $\omega$), be able to find any one of ($\lambda$, $\kappa$, $k$), and vice versa;

• given any one of the quantities ($T$, $f$, $\omega$) AND any one of the quantities ($\lambda$, $\kappa$, $k$), be able to find $v$;

Lectures and Readings:

Readings marked YF are from the text Young and Freedman, University Physics, 10th edition. Readings marked LN are from the course lecture notes to be found at http://www.muchomas.lassp.cornell.edu/P214.

• Lec 4, 09/16 (Tue): Normal modes; boundary conditions for string; dispersion relation $v=\sqrt(\tau/\mu)$.
  Readings: LN ``Intro to Waves: Waves on a String and Standing Waves,'' Sec. 4.3-5; YF 19-4, 19-5.

• Lec 5, 09/18 (Thu): Wave equation for sound.
  Readings: LN `` Other Waves: Sound,'' Sec. 1-2; YF 19-6, 19-7.

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