Physics 385 Assignment 7

L. Traktman
November 1, 2018

Problem 8-3
a)
f(x,t) = Acosk(x-vt)

∂2 ∂
∂x2
f = ∂x
(−Aksink(x − vt)) = −Ak 2 cosk(x − vt) = α

∂2 ∂
∂t2
f = ∂t
(vkAksink(x − vt)) = −v 2 Ak 2 cosk(x − vt) = β
β
α= v2
X

b)
f (x, t) = Csinkxcos(ωt)

∂2 ∂
∂x2
f = ∂x
(kCcos(kx)cos(ωt)) = −k 2 Csin(kx)cos(ωt)

∂2 ∂
∂t2
f = ∂t
(−ωCcos(kx)sin(ωt)) = −ω 2 Csin(kx)cos(ωt)

ω
Using v = k
we reach ω = vk
? 1
−k 2 Csin(kx)cos(ωt) = v2
(−v 2 k 2 Csin(kx)cos(ωt))X

1
Problem 8-7
px−Et
Ψ(x, t) = Aei } = Aei(kx−ωt)

Eliminate A and take the ln of both sides...

px−Et
}
= kx − ωt

d px−Et d
dt }
= dt
kx − ωt

E
}
=ω

mv 2
ω= 2}

d px−Et d
dx }
= dx
kx − ωt
p
}
=k

mv
k= }

b)
For simplicity’s sake let’s consider our system wholly nonrelativistic. Then
the energy of the wave is:

mv 2 m2 v 2 p2
E= 2
= 2m
= 2m

From before we established that p = k} and E = ω}

k2 }2
ω} = 2m

k2 }
ω= 2m

c)
ω k}
vphase = k
= 2m

2
 k}
ugroup = m

d)
k2 } kh
From before we know E = }ω, ω = 2m
and ugroup = m

k2 }2
E= 2m

E = 12 mu2

Problem 8-8
y1 = Acos(k1 x − ωt) + Bcos(−k1 x − ωt)

y2 = Ccos(k2 x − ωt)
∂y1
∂x
= −Ak1 sin(k1 x − ωt) + Bk1 sin(−k1 x − ωt)
∂y2
∂x
= −Ck2 sin(k2 x − ωt)

At the boundary let x = 0 and set y1 = y2

Af (−ωt) + Bf (−ωt) = Cf (−ωt) → A + B = C

Now equate the partials

(A−B)
−A vω1 f (−ωt) + B vω1 (ωt) = −C vω2 → v1
= C
v2

v1
B =A− v2
C

v1
A+A− v2
C =C

2A = C( v1v+v
2
2
)

C 2v2
A
=T = v1 +v2
X

3
 2Av2
A+B = v1 +v2

B 2v2
1+ A
= v1 +v2

B 2v2 v1 +v2
A
= v1 +v2
− v1 +v2

B v2 −v1
A
= v1 +v2
X

Problem 8-9
If µ1 >> µ2 , v1 << v2

Now we see the effect of that behaviour on T and R.

2v2
T = limv1 →0 v1 +v2
=2

v2 −v1
R = limv1 →0 v2 +v1
=1

From this the reflected wave has the same magnitude as the incident wave
and is not inverted while the transmitted wave has twice the magnitude.

The apparent violation of the conservation of energy (that the transmitted

wave exists while the reflected loses nothing) is accounted for if you realize
that our limit implies that the wave on the second string has no velocity.

Thus the transmitted wave can have whatever magnitude it wants, KE =

1
2
m(0)2 is still 0

Problem 8-10
a)
5×10−3 kg
µ= m
L
= 0.6m
= 8.33 × 10−3 kg/m

µ = 8.33 × 10−3

4
 q q
T 350N
v= µ
= 8.33×10−3 kg/m
≈ 205m/s

v ≈ 205m/s

b)
π
k1 = 1 120cm = 2.62m−1

k1 = 2.62m−1

ω = kv = (2.62m−1 205m/s) = 537rad/s

ω = 537rad/s

ω
f= 2π
= 85.5Hz

f = 85.5 Hz

c)
Total energy per unit length = Average energy per unit length times length
(350N )(2.62)2 m−2 (.01)2 m2
Etotal = ( 12 T k 2 A2 = 2
)(0.6m)

E = 7.2 × 10−2 J

E
< KE >, < P E >= 2L
= 0.06J

< KE > and < P E >= 0.06J