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Physics of Waves: Basics and Applications

Understand wave physics including phenomena, equations, velocities, dispersion, reflection, refraction, electromagnetic waves, colors, interference. Explore wave equations, velocities, group velocities, reflection laws, thin film interference.

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Physics of Waves: Basics and Applications

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  1. BIOL/PHYS438 • Logistics • Review of the physics of Waves • Basic phenomenology: period & wavelength • SHM in time and space: “the” Wave Equation • Phase vs. Group velocities: Dispersion • Reflection & Refraction: Snell & TIR • Electromagnetic waves: spectrum, color • Thin Film Interference: butterfly colors

  2. Logistics Assignment 1: Solutions now online! Assignment 2: Solutions online soon! Assignment 3: Solutions online soon! Assignment 4: due next Tuesday Assignment 5: due Thursday after next Jess will be away next week (5-9 March) Hopefully your Projects are underway by now . . .

  3. Periodic Phenomena T Period T

  4. Sinusoidal Wave t T 2T 3T A cos wt + f w = 2p/T x l 3l 2l A cos kx + f k = 2p/l

  5. Phase Velocity y(t) = A cos(kx–wt + f) c = l/T = w/k

  6. “The” Wave Equation

  7. “The” Wave Equation, cont'd

  8. “The” Wave Equation, cont'd Thus

  9. Other “Wave Equations” “The” Wave Equation governs our two most important types of waves: SOUND (vibrations of a compressible medium) and LIGHT (electromagnetic oscillations), for which the phase and group velocities are the same: w≈ck But there are others for which this is not true: WATER WAVES: w≈ck and MATTER WAVES, (see Schroedinger Equation)

  10. Group Velocity The phase velocity of a wave is always given by vph=w/k But information travels at the group velocity: These are not always the same!

  11. Water Waves For DEEP OCEAN WATER WAVES, giving and

  12. Reflection & Refraction

  13. Snell's Law wavecrest wavecrest Dissimilar triangles: sin /sin ' = l/l' = c/c' = n'/n

  14. Total Internal Reflection sin /sin ' = n'/n : For n' > n, at some angle c this predicts ' = p/2, i.e. there is no refracted wave; then for  > c we get a perfect mirror! (Ask any fish!)

  15. The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  16. Colors How do we perceive color? Can you tell a pure green laser from a mixture of pure blue and pure yellow lasers? Can you tell a pure violet laser from a mixture of pure red and blue lasers? What is the difference between violet and “purple”?

  17. Thin Film Interference We always draw the reflected and refracted rays at a small angle to the normal so that the two reflected rays (1 & 2) can be shown separately; but in reality we are always talking about normal incidence. To decide if rays 1 & 2 are in phase or out of phase, we add up their phase differences. Upon reflection, if nB>nA, ray 1experiences a phase shift of π ; ray 2 has a similar phase shift if nC>nB . Then the path length difference (2d) gives a phase difference of Δθpath = 2π(Δℓ/λB) where λB is the wavelength in medium B. Let's suppose nC>nB>nA so that both reflected rays get the same “phase flip”. Then the path length difference of 2d is the only source of Δθ = 2π(2d/λB) . If d = λB/4 (what we call a “quarter-wave plate”) then rays 1 & 2 will interfere destructively, giving minimum reflection & maximum transmission. This is used in “anti-glare” coatings on windows, glasses and camera lenses.

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