Re: [Phys-L] definition of "wave"

[David Bowman <David_Bowman@georgetowncollege.edu>]

Regarding Bob LaMontagne's question:

> David,
>
> How do pulses on a string fit into your definition? They are a
> disturbance that follows the wave equation, but they don't fit
> what I would usually consider "oscillatory".
>
> Bob

Why would you not count such pulses as oscillatory?  They goes up & down in value, and are not a constant DC value.  Remember I stipulated that the oscillations were to be considered as being taken relative to a background average equilibrium value.  Any constant DC bias is supposed to be subtracted off when considering the oscillations.

David Bowman