Light and Matter - book 3 - Vibrations and Waves

92 Pages·1998·2.003 MB·English

by  B. Crowell

Vibrations
and Waves
Benjamin Crowell
Book 3 in the Light and Matter series of introductory physics textbooks
www.lightandmatter.com

Vibrations and Waves
The Light and Matter series of
introductory physics textbooks:
1 Newtonian Physics
2 Conservation Laws
3 Vibrations and Waves
4 Electricity and Magnetism
5 Optics
6 The Modern Revolution in Physics
Vibrations and Waves
Benjamin Crowell
www.lightandmatter.com
Light and Matter
Fullerton, California
www.lightandmatter.com
© 1999 by Benjamin Crowell
All rights reserved.
Edition 2.0
rev. 2000-09-16
ISBN 0-9704670-3-6
To Diz and Bird.

Contents
3 Free Waves 39
3.1 Wave Motion........................................ 40
3.2 Waves on a String ............................... 44
3.3 Sound and Light Waves ...................... 48
3.4 Periodic Waves.................................... 50
3.5 The Doppler Effect............................... 54
1 Vibrations 11
Summary...................................................... 58
1.1 Period, Frequency, and Amplitude....... 12 Homework Problems.................................... 59
1.2 Simple Harmonic Motion ..................... 14
1.3* Proofs................................................. 16
Summary...................................................... 18
Homework Problems.................................... 19
4 Bounded Waves 61
4.1 Reflection, Transmission,
and Absorption.................................... 62
4.2* Quantitative Treatment of Reflection.. 67
2 Resonance 21 4.3 Interference Effects ............................. 70
4.4 Waves Bounded on Both Sides........... 72
2.1 Energy in Vibrations ............................ 22
Summary...................................................... 77
2.2 Energy Lost From Vibrations............... 24
Homework Problems.................................... 78
2.3 Putting Energy Into Vibrations............. 26
2.4* Proofs................................................. 33 Supplement 3-5: Complex-
Summary...................................................... 36
Number Techniques
Homework Problems.................................... 37
Supplement 3-5 is available online in electronic
format at www.lightandmatter.com.
5.1 Review of Complex Numbers
5.2 Representing Oscillation and Decay
5.3 Solution of the Equations of Motion
Exercises 79
Glossary 81
Index 83
Photo Credits 85
Useful Data 92
Contents 9
10 Contents