Travelling Waves - Practice Questions & MCQ

The function f(x,t) represents the displacements y of the particle at t=0 and x=x'

k- propagation constant or angular wave number

A- Amplitude

For a given time, between position x=0 to x=x' the phase changes from 0 to kx'

similarly, x=0 to x= the phase changes from 0 to 2

The disturbance travels on the strings towards along positive x-axis with a constant speed 'v'. Thus, the displacement produced at the left end at time 't=0', reaches the point 'x' at time 't=(x-x')/v'.

As wave shape remains same for progressive wave, particle's displacement at x=x', t=0 and x=x'+vt, t=t are same

i.e.,  is same as 

Let's now write the equation in terms of the stationary coordinate x, where x'  =  x − vt 

For wave travelling along negative x-axis,

GENERAL EQUATION OF TRAVELLING WAVE