oscillations and waves phy255f robin marjoribanks mclennan physics 1104c [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
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
Less-obvious oscillations
musical instrumentsguitar, piano; oboe, flute
suspension bridgeslasersquartz-crystal electronic watchesradio antennaefiber opticscar mufflers
Subtle oscillations
heat in a solidstructure of an atomsuperconductivityheat radiationozone protectionrings of Saturnquantum mechanical zero-point energyparticles in string theory
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)
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