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Wave on a string

A sinusoidal wave propagates on a string as shown in the animation.

What is the amplitude of oscillation, wavelength, and period?

What is the direction of the velocity of the piece of string at x=0 m and t=0 s?

What is the direction of the velocity of the piece of string at x=0.125 m and t=0 s?

What is the speed of the wave?

Now, change the function to a Gaussian pulse. (Click on the "Change" link below the animation and use the function already entered there.) Does it make sense to speak of a wavelength or period? What about amplitude? What is the speed of the pulse?

f(x,t)=

 

 

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Dr. Aaron Titus | High Point University| titus@mailaps.org