Question

For the travelling harmonic wave y(x,t) = 2cos2π(10t-0.008x + 0.35) where x and y are in cm and t is in s. The phase difference between oscillatory motion of two points separated by a distance of 0.5 m is ?

Answer 1

For a wave motion, phase difference `delta phi` and path difference `delta x` are related as ,

`delta phi = (2pi)/lambda delta x=k delta x`

Comparing the given equation with, `y=a cos(omegat -kx)` we get,

`k=2pi*0.008`

so,`delta phi = k*0.5*100=2pi*0.008*0.5*100=2.5 rad`