Difference between revisions of "Wave mechanics"

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y(x,t) = Ψ = Asin(kx - ωt)
 
y(x,t) = Ψ = Asin(kx - ωt)
  
[3d_plot_of_y_and_x_and_t.png]
+
[file:3d plot of y and x and t.png]
  
 
A = amplitude
 
A = amplitude

Revision as of 12:00, 5 May 2020

Introduction

Basic Equation

The basic equation of wave mechanics is a function that describes the position of a particle as a function of time, where the function is wavelike, such as sine or cosine:

y(x,t) = Ψ = Asin(kx - ωt)

[file:3d plot of y and x and t.png]

A = amplitude

k = 2π/λ

w = 2πf

So if given the amplitude, wavelength and frequency of a particle that was behaving in a sine fashion, its position could be calculated at a particular time on the t axis using this equation. It would also give the particle position as a function of time at a particular distance on the x axis. Both plots F vs. x and F vs. t would be cosine plots.