8.03SC | Fall 2016 | Undergraduate

Physics III: Vibrations and Waves

Part I: Mechanical Vibrations and Waves

Lecture 8: Translation Symmetry

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Lecture Topics

  • Symmetry
  • Infinitely long system
  • Boundary conditions
  • Wave equations

Lecture Video: Translation Symmetry

Prof. Lee introduces the concept of “boundary conditions” which enables us to solve a finite system using the general solution of an infinitely long system. In the end of the lecture, a wave equation is derived in the continuous limit.

Lecture Notes

Typed Notes for Lecture 8 (PDF - 1.2MB)

Handwritten Notes for Lecture 8 (PDF - 1.9MB)

Textbook Reading

Chapter 5: Waves (PDF - 1.4MB) (section 5.3 to end) 

Chapter 6: Continuum Limit and Fourier Series (PDF - 1.2MB) (through section 6.1) 

In-class Demonstrations

SEE IT IN THE LECTURE
Bell Labs Wave Machine

Video: Wave on a String from PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder

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Fall 2016
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