B.

Sc II Sem WAVES A D B F G C, H Halli

VSK University, Ballari
BSc II Semester
PHY 201: Paper 2: Heat & Thermodynamics, Waves & Oscillations
Waves (6 hrs): Syllabus:
Wave motion, General equation for progressive wave in one dimension, differential form of wave equation,
derive relation between amplitude and intensity. Wave groups –wave velocity and group velocity, relation
between wave velocity and group velocity.
Waves

Wave motion:
Wave motion is a form of disturbance which travels through the medium due to the repeated periodic
motion of the particles of the medium about their mean positions, the disturbance being handed over from one
particle to the next. In this way the disturbance advances through the medium. Wave motion in general refers
to the transfer of energy from one point to another point of the medium. Such a spreading of disturbance
involving transference of energy is known as wave motion. Waves formed in this way are called progressive
waves. Thus, a progressive wave is defined as “A wave which travels continuously in a medium in the same
direction is called a progressive wave”.
Definitions:
Wavelength: It is the distance travelled by the wave in the time in which the particle of the medium completes
one vibration. It is also defined as the distance between two nearest particles in the same phase.
Frequency: It is the number of vibrations made by a particle in one second.
Amplitude: It is the maximum displacement of the particle from its mean position of rest.
Time period: It is the time taken by a particle to complete on vibration.
General equation for progressive wave in one dimension:
Consider a particle 𝑂 in a medium. Let the displacement at any instant of time is given by
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 … … … (1)
Consider another particle 𝐴 at a distance 𝑥 from the particle 𝑂 to its right. Here it is assumed that the
wave is travelling with a velocity 𝑣 from left to right. That is, from particle 𝑂 towards 𝐴. The displacement at
𝐴 is given by
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 𝛼) … … … . . (2)
Where ′𝛼′ is the phase difference between the particles 𝑂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴. For a phase difference of 2𝜋, the path
difference is 𝜆. Suppose for a phase difference of ′𝛼′, the path difference is 𝑥.
2𝜋
𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = . 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝜆
2𝜋 2𝜋𝑣
𝛼= . 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑛 =
𝜆 𝜆

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[Link] II Sem WAVES A D B F G C, H Halli
Substituting the values of 𝛼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 in equation (2), we get
2𝜋𝑣𝑡 2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( − . 𝑥)
𝜆 𝜆
𝟐𝝅
𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 (𝒗𝒕 − 𝒙) … … … … (𝟑)
𝝀
Which represents the equation of a progressive wave. Similarly for a particle at a distance in the negative
direction, that is, to the left of 𝑂, the equation for displacement is
𝟐𝝅
𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 (𝒗𝒕 + 𝒙)
𝝀
Differential equation of wave motion:
The general equation of a progressive wave is given by
2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … … . (1)
𝜆
Differentiating equation (1) with respect to time, we get
𝑑𝑦 2𝜋 2𝜋𝑣
= 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) .
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆
𝑑𝑦 2𝜋𝑎𝑣 2𝜋
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … . . (2)
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆
Differentiating equation (2) with respect to time, we get
𝑑2𝑦 2𝜋𝑎𝑣 2𝜋 2𝜋𝑣
2
=− 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) .
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆 𝜆
𝑑2 𝑦 4𝜋 2 𝑎𝑣 2 2𝜋
2
=− 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … . . (3)
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆
To find the value of compression, differentiate equation (1) with respect to 𝑥,
𝑑𝑦 2𝜋 −2𝜋
= 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) .
𝑑𝑥 𝜆 𝜆
𝑑𝑦 2𝜋𝑎 2𝜋
=− 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … … . . (4)
𝑑𝑥 𝜆 𝜆
To find the rate of change of compression with respect to distance, differentiate equation (4) with respect to
𝑥,
𝑑2𝑦 2𝜋𝑎 2𝜋 2𝜋
= − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) .
𝑑𝑥 2 𝜆 𝜆 𝜆
𝑑2 𝑦 4𝜋 2 𝑎 2𝜋
= − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … … … (5)
𝑑𝑥 2 𝜆2 𝜆
From equation (2) and (4)
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= −𝑣. … … … . (6)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
From equation (3) and (5)
𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝟐
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
=𝒗 … … … (𝟕)
𝒅𝒕𝟐 𝒅𝒙𝟐
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Which represents the differential equation of wave motion.
Expression for the relation between amplitude and intensity: (Energy of a progressive wave)
The general equation of a progressive wave is given by
2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … … . (1)
𝜆
The particle velocity at any instant can be obtained by differentiating equation (1) with respect to ‘t’
𝑑𝑦 2𝜋𝑎𝑣 2𝜋
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … . . (2)
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆
Therefore the acceleration is
𝑑2 𝑦 4𝜋 2 𝑎𝑣 2 2𝜋
2
= − 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … . . (3)
𝑑𝑡 𝜆 𝜆
To calculate P.E:
To displace the particle from its mean position to a distance 𝑦, work has to be dine against acceleration. That
is the work done per unit volume for a displacement 𝑑𝑦 is
= 𝐹 × 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑚. 𝑎. 𝑑𝑦
= 𝜌. 𝑎. 𝑑𝑦
𝑚
Where 𝜌 = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 , ∴ 𝑚 = 𝜌. Substituting the value of acceleration from equation (3), we get

4𝜋 2 𝑎𝑣 2 2𝜋
Work done per unit volume = 𝜌 [ 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥)] . 𝑑𝑦
𝜆 𝜆
4𝜋 2 𝜌𝑣 2
Work done per unit volume = . 𝑦. 𝑑𝑦 ∵ 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 (1)
𝜆2
𝑦
4𝜋 2 𝜌𝑣 2
Total work done per unit volume = . ∫ 𝑦. 𝑑𝑦
𝜆2
0
2 2 2
4𝜋 𝜌𝑣 𝑦 2𝜋 2 𝜌𝑣 2 𝑦 2
Potential energy per unit volume = =
2𝜆2 𝜆2
2𝜋 2 𝜌𝑎2 𝑣 2 2
2𝜋
Potential energy per unit volume = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … . . (4)
𝜆2 𝜆
To calculate K.E:
1
𝐾. 𝐸 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = . 𝜌. (𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦)2
2
2
1 2𝜋𝑎𝑣 2𝜋
𝐾. 𝐸 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = . 𝜌. [ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥)]
2 𝜆 𝜆
2𝜋 2 𝜌𝑎2 𝑣 2 2
2𝜋
𝐾. 𝐸 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) … … … (5)
𝜆2 𝜆
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑃. 𝐸 + 𝐾. 𝐸

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2 2 2
2𝜋 𝜌𝑎 𝑣 2𝜋 2𝜋
𝐸= 2
[𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥)]
𝜆 𝜆 𝜆
2𝜋 2 𝜌𝑎2 𝑣 2
𝐸=
𝜆2
𝐸 = 2𝜋 2 𝜌𝑛2 𝑎2 ∵ 𝑣 = 𝑛𝜆
The intensity is defined as the amount of energy transferred per unit area of cross section per unit time at a
point. If 𝑣 is the velocity of the wave per second then intensity per second is
𝐼 =𝐸×𝑣
𝑰 = 𝟐𝝅𝟐 𝝆𝒏𝟐 𝒂𝟐 𝒗
Particle velocity:
It is the velocity of the simple harmonic motion of the oscillating particle about its equilibrium position.
Wave velocity or Phase velocity:
It is the velocity with which the wave front travels forward through the medium. The equation of a
plane progressive wave is given by
2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝜆
2𝜋
Where 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 = 𝜆
𝜔 2𝜋𝑛
= = 𝑛𝜆 = 𝑣
𝑘 2𝜋
𝜆
𝝎
∴ 𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 = 𝒗 =
𝒌
This 𝑣 is the wave velocity or phase velocity. Hence, ‘phase velocity is the velocity with which a plane
progressive wave front travels forward and which has a constant phase given by (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)’
The Group velocity:
A group consists of a number of waves of different frequencies superimposed upon each other. For
example, white light consists of a continuous visible wave length spectrum ranging from about 3000 Å in the
violet to about 7000 Å in the red region. The motion of such a pulse is described by its group velocity.
The wave velocity of each component of such a group would be different in all media except vacuum.
Hence such a group of waves will disperse with time when it is travelling through a medium.
Wave groups:
Let us consider a group of waves consisting of only two components of equal amplitudes and having
frequencies 𝜔1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔2 differing by a small amount and represented by the equation
𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔1 𝑡 − 𝑘1 𝑥) &

𝑦2 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 𝑥)

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𝜔1 𝜔2 2𝜋
Where 𝑎𝑛𝑑 represents their respective velocities, 𝑘 = is known as wave propagation constant. It is
𝑘1 𝑘2 𝜆
𝜔1 𝜔2
further supposed that ≠ . That is, it is a dispersive medium. The resultant amplitude is given by
𝑘1 𝑘2

𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔1 𝑡 − 𝑘1 𝑥) + 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 𝑥)

𝐴+𝐵 𝐴−𝐵
Using the formula cos 𝐴 + cos 𝐵 = 2 cos ( ) cos ( ), the above equation becomes
2 2

(𝜔1 + 𝜔2 ) (𝑘1 + 𝑘2 ) (𝜔1 − 𝜔2 ) (𝑘1 − 𝑘2 )

𝑦 = 2𝑎 cos [ 𝑡− 𝑥] cos [ 𝑡− 𝑥]
2 2 2 2

∆𝜔𝑡 ∆𝑘𝑥
𝑦 = 2𝑎 cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥) cos ( − )
2 2
(𝜔1 +𝜔2 ) (𝑘1 +𝑘2 )
Where 𝜔 = , 𝑘= , ∆𝜔 = (𝜔1 − 𝜔2 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑘 = (𝑘1 − 𝑘2 ), the resultant wave has two parts
2 2

𝜔
(a) A wave of angular frequency 𝜔, propagation constant 𝑘 and velocity 𝑣 = 𝑘
∆𝜔 ∆𝑘 ∆𝜔
(b) A second wave of angular frequency , propagation constant and velocity 𝑣𝑔 =
2 2 ∆𝑘

The first type of wave has a maximum amplitude 2a. It is modulated in space and time by the second wave
∆𝜔
which consists of a group of waves of the first type and is a very slowly varying envelope of frequency and
2
∆𝑘 ∆𝜔
propagation constant (Figure). The modulated pattern moves with a velocity 𝑣𝑔 = known as the group
2 ∆𝑘

velocity.
∆𝝎 𝒅𝝎
∴ 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 = 𝒗𝒈 = =
∆𝒌 𝒅𝒌

Relation between wave velocity and group velocity:

The expression for group velocity is given by the expression

∆𝜔 𝑑𝜔
𝑣𝑔 = = … … … . . (1)
∆𝑘 𝑑𝑘

If the wave velocity is represented by 𝑣, then

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𝜔
𝑣 = 𝑜𝑟 𝜔 = 𝑘𝑣
𝑘

𝑑𝜔 𝑑𝑣
∴ = 𝑣 + 𝑘.
𝑑𝑘 𝑑𝑘

𝑘
𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣 + . 𝑑𝑣 … … (2)
𝑑𝑘

𝑑𝜔
∵ 𝑣𝑔 =
𝑑𝑘

𝜔 2𝜋𝑛 2𝜋
Also 𝑘 = = =
𝑣 𝑣 𝜆

𝑑𝑘 2𝜋 1
∴ = − 2 = − .𝑘
𝑑𝜆 𝜆 𝜆

Or

𝑘 𝜆
=−
𝑑𝑘 𝑑𝜆
𝑘
Substituting the value of 𝑑𝑘 in equation (2), we get

𝒅𝒗
𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗 − 𝝀
𝒅𝝀

This is the relation between group velocity and wave velocity. The group velocity 𝑣𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑒 < = > 𝑣 where
𝑣 be the wave or phase velocity.