Oscillations and WavesPHY255F

Robin Marjoribanks

McLennan Physics 1104C

marj@physics.utoronto.ca

What makes this course important?

Vibrations, oscillations and waves appear in obvious and not-obvious places

they have an enormous impact on understanding how things work in astrophysics, thermal physics, quantum mechanics, optics, condensed-matter physics, mechanics, atmospheric and planetary physics, etc., etc.

so it’s a basic literacy in physics

Obvious oscillations

water wavespendulumsstop sign in a strong windearthquakescar springs, shock absorberssurface of cup of coffee dragged on table

Oscillations of a bridge

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Less-obvious oscillations

musical instrumentsguitar, piano; oboe, flute

suspension bridgeslasersquartz-crystal electronic watchesradio antennaefiber opticscar mufflers

Music

same note, different timbre -- why?

recorder

harmonica

Subtle oscillations

heat in a solidstructure of an atomsuperconductivityheat radiationozone protectionrings of Saturnquantum mechanical zero-point energyparticles in string theory

Rings of Saturn

Saturn’s rings have substructure, including bands, gaps and radial spokes...

Topics phasor notation free, damped and forced harmonic oscillations resonance AC circuits coupled oscillators normal modes travelling waves wave equation, impedance transverse and longitudinal waves flow of energy in waves reflection and transmission at interfaces group and phase velocity dispersion Fourier series and Fourier transforms

Approachmultiple resources

textbooklecturestutorialsoffice hours (professor & TA)other textslaboratory PHY225H

all are neededeach has particular advantages

Lectures

will concentrate on what lectures do bestwon’t just lead you through the textbookwill provide interaction and feedback

that books cannotwill provide demonstrations and

animationslectures will depend on you having read

ahead also

Textbook

The Physics of Vibrations and Waves, (Sixth Edition), by H.J. Pain (Wiley, 2005)

5th ed. used in past; try to find used?

available from Amazon.com

i-Clickers

we’ll be using the classroom response system ‘i-Clickers’

I’ll ask a multiple-choice question, and

be able to poll your responses

you’ll be able to see the class’s response

these are available at the Bookstore, like

textbooks

Contact

emails will be sent to your registered U of T email address

may include problem set info, corrections, class cancellation, room changes, etc.

you’re responsible to check often

Good extra resource

“Vibrations and Waves”, A.P. Frenchalso used last year; try to find usedavailable from Amazon.comthis book is simpler, sometimes better for

an introductionis relatively ‘lite’ compared to Pain

Tutorials

TA: Jean-Sébastien BernierMondays 10am, MP134Tuesdays 10am MP137

solve example questionsreview problem-set solutionsquestion-and-answer

Office Hours

Professor MarjoribanksWednesdays 4–5 pm (OK?)MP1104C

TA: J-S Bernierfor questions about marking, his office

times/day to be determined in tutorial other questions, please ask in tutorial (or my

class office hours)

Problem sets

Problem set due datesWed. 3 OctoberWed. 17 OctoberFriday 9 NovemberFriday 23 NovemberFriday 7 December (firm deadline, no

extensions)please hand in to the marker’s drop-box directlysolutions posted on course web-sitelate policy: 25% off per day for three dayszero, once solutions are posted (~3 days after)

Marking scheme

Term work:5 problems 25%term test 25%

Final examfinal exam 50%

Total: 100%

Comments on textsThe Physics of Vibrations and Waves, H.J. Pain

style is clear but not flowery, not too conversational gets on with the subject mattercovers course material + numerous important Qssupply of problems to solve is excellentbook is a ‘keeper’ as useful reference even afterwards

Vibrations and Waves, A.P. Frenchmore conversational textsomewhat less rigorous in its structure I find it less useful in learning the physics has been a reliable teaching tool for long time, if you have problems with Pain’s style, try French

Midterm test – only impossiblesMon 22 Tues 23 Wed 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26

9-10

10-11 tutorial tutorial PHY255F PHY255F

11-12

12-1pm

1-2

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3-4 11 PHY485F PHY485F 5

4-5 20 7 12 Colloq. 7

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