Problems for
Intermediate Methods in Theoretical Physics

Edward F. Redish

Propagating a Pulse

At a time t=0, the displacement of a spring from equilibrium at that time is given by the function
F(x) = Ae-(x/b)2
.

The pulse is moving in the positive x direction with a speed v0.

(a) Sketch a graph showing the shape of the spring at a later time, t = t0. Specify the height and position of the peak in terms of the symbols given.

(b) Write an equation for y(x, t) the displacement of the spring for any time, t.

(c) Calculate and sketch a graph of the upward velocity of the spring, v(x, t0) as a function of the position on the spring at the time t0.

This page prepared by

Edward F. Redish
Department of Physics
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-6120
Email: redish@umd.edu

Last revision 28. October, 2004.