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

["LaMontagne, Bob" <RLAMONT@providence.edu>]

Just a matter of vernacular I guess:

"Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. The term 'vibration' is precisely used to describe mechanical oscillation but used as a synonym of 'oscillation' too."

Oscillation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillation

However, the simple statement "satisfies the wave equation" seems to say it all.

:-)

Bob


________________________________________
From: Phys-l <phys-l-bounces@www.phys-l.org> on behalf of David Bowman <David_Bowman@georgetowncollege.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 3:53 PM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Subject: Re: [Phys-L] definition of "wave"

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

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