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Physics Tutorial 11.2 - General Equation of Waves

There are 3 lessons in this physics tutorial covering General Equation of Waves. The tutorial starts with an introduction to General Equation of Waves and is then followed with a list of the separate lessons, the tutorial is designed to be read in order but you can skip to a specific lesson or return to recover a specific physics lesson as required to build your physics knowledge of General Equation of Waves. you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

In this Physics tutorial, you will learn:

  • What is wave function?
  • What is the form of the general equation of waves?
  • What is angular wave number and how it relates with the wavelength?
  • How to obtain the simplified wave equation from the general equation of waves?
  • How to calculate the speed and acceleration of oscillating particles in a wave?
  • How to interpret wave graphs?

Introduction to General Equation of Waves

In the previous tutorial "Types of Waves. The Simplified Equation of Waves", we explained some key concepts that are related to waves and their behavior. Also, in that tutorial we gave the simplified equation of waves

v = λ × f

However, there is a serious drawback in the above equation. It does not include the amplitude, which is a key element of a wave. Thus, if we apply the above equation, we are able to use only the information contained in the horizontal axis. Every quantity related to the vertical or y-axis such as amplitude, crest, trough and any other vertical position of a point of wave, cannot be calculated if they are not shown a-priori, and as a result, it is impossible to find them.

In this tutorial, besides speed, frequency, period, wavelength etc., we will extend the use of equation of waves for the vertical axis as well, in order to include all relevant quantities, so that we can find the position of a point of a point of wave at any instant.

Please select a specific "General Equation of Waves" lesson from the table below, review the video tutorial, print the revision notes or use the practice question to improve your knowledge of this physics topic.

Waves Learning Material
Tutorial IDPhysics Tutorial TitleTutorialVideo
Tutorial		Revision
Notes		Revision
Questions
11.2General Equation of Waves
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
Lesson
11.2.1Wave Function. General Equation of Waves
11.2.2How to Obtain the Simplified Wave Equation from the General Equation of Waves
11.2.3Speed and Acceleration of Oscillating Particles in a Wave

Whats next?

Enjoy the "General Equation of Waves" physics tutorial? People who liked the "General Equation of Waves" tutorial found the following resources useful:

  1. Physics tutorial Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this tutorial (see below)
  2. Waves Revision Notes: General Equation of Waves. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for General Equation of Waves
  3. Waves Practice Questions: General Equation of Waves. Test and improve your knowledge of General Equation of Waves with example questins and answers
  4. Check your calculations for Waves questions with our excellent Waves calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Waves Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
  5. Continuing learning waves - read our next physics tutorial: Energy and Power of Waves

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