1-7 Energy and power of a traveling wave on a string
Energies in a sinusoidal wave traveling on a string
Kinetic energy = 0
Elastic potential energy = 0
At maximum displacement, the oscillating
segment has zero transverse speed and thus has no kinetic energy. The
segment is not stretched by the wave and thus its elastic potential
energy does not change. The segment at maximum displacement does not acquire any energy from the wave.
Kinetic energy = maximum
Elastic potential energy = maximum
At zero displacement, the oscillating
segment has maximum transverse speed and thus has maximum kinetic energy.
The segment is stretched the most by the wave and thus its elastic potential
energy has maximum value. The segment at zero displacement acquires the maximum energy from the wave.