Lecture 26

Readings

http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/52235089/Waves%20in%201D

http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/52235602/Waves%20on%20an%20elastic%20string

http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/52237471/Wave%20pulses

Waves in 1-D

• IN the video, wave maintains its shape as it travels

• If 1st bead is raised up

  

  • It will exert force ( = accelerate ) the 2nd bead upward
  • Then the 2nd bead will pull the 3rd bead up, etc.

• Eventually, when the 1st bead is moved down, it will exert a force to accelerate the 2nd bead down, etc.

• Do the beads also move left and right?

  • No, not at all
  • The wave moves ( = the peak moves )
  • But the masses only go up and down
  • Like the "wave" of a fans at a sports stadium

• This kind of wave is called a transverse wave

  • Transverse = perpendicular $\to$$\rightarrow$ wave to the right, masses up and down