PHY201: Waves & Optics
Problem Set 5
October 11, 2024
1. (a) Derive the wave equation for longitudinal vibrations of a rod. Your final result would be
∂2ξ ρ ∂2ξ
= ,
∂x2 Y ∂t2
where ξ is the displacement from the equilibrium position of each particle in the rod that was
initially at a distance x from some section that is assumed to be fixed. ρ is the density and Y
is the Young’s modulus.
(b) Suppose one end of the rod is fixed. Let the fixed end of the rod be at x = 0 and the free end
at x = L. Calculate the natural frequencies of the rod. What is the frequency ν1 of the lowest
mode?
(c) Suppose we considered an aluminium rod, 1m long. Assuming Y = 6 × 1010 kg/m/sec2 and
ρ ≈ 2.7 × 103 kg/m3 , calculate ν1 .
2. A string of length L and total mass M is stretched to a tension T . What are the frequencies of
the three lowest normal modes of oscillation of the string for transverse oscillations? Compare these
frequencies with the three normal mode frequencies of three masses each of mass M/3 spaced at
equal intervals on a massless string of tension T and total length L.
3. Consider a uniform cube of side L in which the characteristic wave speed is v. Show that for this
system the total number of modes of vibration corresponding to frequencies between ν and ν + dν
is 4L3 ν 2 ∆ν/π 2 v 3 if πv/L ≪ ∆ν ≪ ν.
4. The amplitudes of transverse vibrations of N particles connected via N + 1 segments of a string are
described by the equation
pnπ
Ap,n = Cn sin ,
N +1
where, Ap,n is the amplitude of pth particle when the system is oscillating in nth normal mode.
(a) Take N = 3 and tabulate in a 3 × 3 array the relative numerical values of the amplitudes of the
particles (p = 1, 2, 3) in each of the normal modes (n = 1, 2, 3).
(b) What are the relative amplitudes of the particles if we substitute n = 5, 6, 7 in the formula?
5. Consider a system of N coupled oscillators (masses on a string), with its right end driven at a
frequency ω < 2ω0 (y0 = 0, yN +1 = h cos ωt). Find the resulting amplitudes of the N oscillators.
6. Find the Fourier series for the motion of a string of length L if
(a) y(x, 0) = Ax(L − x); (∂y/∂t)t=0 = 0.
(b) y(x, 0) = 0; (∂y/∂t)t=0 = Bx(L − x).