Class Notes II: Introduction to waves

Cornell University

Department of Physics

Physics 214 October 15, 2001

• Contents
• List of Figures
• Introduction
• Physical realization
• Basic Characterization
  • Descriptions of Spatial Periodicity
  • Conversions
  • Dispersion Relation
• General Analysis
  • Identify the degrees of freedom
  • Derive the equation of motion
    • Motion in the x direction
    • Motion in the y direction
  • Find a general solution
    • Standing waves/Normal modes
    • Boundary Conditions
      • Fixed/Close Boundary Conditions -
      • Free/Open Boundary Conditions -
• What does it all mean?
  • Degrees of Freedom y(x) -
  • Solution y(x,t) -
  • Horizontal component of tension (Eq. ) -
  • Vertical component of tension (Eq. , consitutive relation) -
  • Segment response (Eq. ) -
  • Conservation of momentum (Eq. ) -
  • Equation of motion/wave equation: (Eq. ) -
  • Wave equation: (Eq. ) -
  • Dispersion relation: (Eq. ) -
  • Wave speed: (Eq. ) -
  • Fixed/closed boundary condition: (Eq. ) -
  • Free/open boundary condition: (Eq. ) -
• About this document ...

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