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Ch 16: Traveling Waves
Chapter 16, Problem 16

Show that the displacement D(x,t) = cx² + dt², where c and d are constants, is a solution to the wave equation. Then find an expression in terms of c and d for the wave speed.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Wave Equation

The wave equation is a second-order partial differential equation that describes the propagation of waves, such as sound or light, through a medium. It is typically expressed as ∂²D/∂t² = v²∂²D/∂x², where D is the displacement, t is time, x is position, and v is the wave speed. Understanding this equation is crucial for analyzing wave behavior and verifying if a given function satisfies the equation.
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Displacement Function

In the context of wave motion, the displacement function D(x,t) represents the position of points in the medium as a function of both space (x) and time (t). The specific form D(x,t) = cx² + dt² indicates a quadratic relationship in space and time, which is essential for determining how the wave propagates. Analyzing this function helps in checking its compliance with the wave equation.
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Wave Speed

Wave speed is the rate at which a wave propagates through a medium and is denoted by v in the wave equation. It can be derived from the wave equation by relating the coefficients of the displacement function to the speed of the wave. In this case, finding the wave speed involves identifying the relationship between the constants c and d in the displacement function, which ultimately determines how fast the wave travels.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
The string in FIGURE P16.59 has linear density μ. Find an expression in terms of M, μ, and θ for the speed of waves on the string.

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Textbook Question
FIGURE EX16.8 is a picture at t = 0 s of the particles in a medium as a longitudinal wave is passing through. The equilibrium spacing between the particles is 1.0 cm. Draw the snapshot graph D(x, t = 0 s) of this wave at t = 0 s.

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Textbook Question
What are the sound intensity levels for sound waves of intensity (a) 3.0 x 10⁻⁶ W/m²?
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Textbook Question
A sound wave is described by D (y,t) = (0.0200 mm) ✕ sin [(8.96 rad/m)y + (3140 rad/s)t + π/4 rad], where y is in m and t is in s. b. Along which axis is the air oscillating?
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Textbook Question
One cue your hearing system uses to localize a sound (i.e., to tell where a sound is coming from) is the slight difference in the arrival times of the sound at your ears. Your ears are spaced approximately 20 cm apart. Consider a sound source 5.0 m from the center of your head along a line 45° to your right. What is the difference in arrival times? Give your answer in microseconds. Hint: You are looking for the difference between two numbers that are nearly the same. What does this near equality imply about the necessary precision during intermediate stages of the calculation?

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Textbook Question
An avant-garde composer wants to use the Doppler effect in his new opera. As the soprano sings, he wants a large bat to fly toward her from the back of the stage. The bat will be outfitted with a microphone to pick up the singer's voice and a loudspeaker to rebroadcast the sound toward the audience. The composer wants the sound the audience hears from the bat to be, in musical terms, one half-step higher in frequency than the note they are hearing from the singer. Two notes a half-step apart have a frequency ratio of 2¹/² = 1.059. With what speed must the bat fly toward the singer?
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