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Key Equations

Wave speed v=λT =λf
Linear mass density μ=mass of the string length of the string
Speed of a wave or pulse on a string under
tension
|v| =FT μ
Speed of a compression wave in a fluid v=Βρ
Resultant wave from superposition of two
sinusoidal waves that are identical except for a
phase shift
yR(x,t ) =[2Acos(ϕ2 ) ] sin(kxωt+ϕ2 )
Wave number k2π λ
Wave speed v=ωk
A periodic wave y(x,t ) =Asin(kxωt+ϕ )
Phase of a wave kxωt+ϕ
The linear wave equation 2y(x,t ) x2 =1vw2 2y(x,t ) t2
Power averaged over a wavelength Pave=Eλ T =12 μA2ω2λT =12 μA2ω2v
Intensity I=PA
Intensity for a spherical wave I=P4πr2
Equation of a standing wave y(x,t ) =[2Asin(kx ) ] cos(ωt )
Wavelength for symmetric boundary
conditions
λn=2n L,n=1,2,3,4,5...
Frequency for symmetric boundary conditions fn=nv2L =nf1,n=1,2,3,4,5...
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