You are on page 1of 3

1

Mathematical Description of a Wave


-The sinusoidal wave is the most frequently periodic signal.
-Common examples are electromagnetic radiation, current produced by rotation of a coil in a magnetic field etc.
-When electric(or magnetic) field vector of EM radiation is plotted as a function of time, the result is a sine
wave
-A pure sine wave is conveniently represented as a vector of length A.
-The vector rotates counterclockwise at a constant angular velocity .

-Amplitude(A) of the wave is the length(y) of electric field vector(y) at the wave maximum.
-Let us recall trigonometry:
Sin = y/radius = y/Amplitude.
y is the displacement value of vector at any time t & peak displacement or circle radius is Y
max
or
amplitude(A)
is:
y= A Sin
We know , 2 radians corresponds to 360.

-Moving around the complete circumference of the circle i.e., through 360 degrees or 2 radians, corresponds to
one cycle of motion.

1cycle= 2 radians.

We know, rate of change of angle in radians with passage of time t or angular velocity(or frequency) is
represented by .
2


-The angular position of the point or the vector moving around the circle circumference can be represented
at any time, t, as:
=t
-The vector or point along the Y axis for any time, t, can be expressed as:
y(t)= A Sin t
-The vector rotates at a rate of 2 radians in the period T(or P) .
-Then relationship between frequency radians/Sec & frequency( ) Hertz(Hz) is
= 2 / T = 2 ,(We know, =1/T)

-Now, sine wave equation, y(t)= A Sint becomes,
y(t)= ASin2t
Where y(t) is electric field at time t.

-Two waves are out of phase by 90 or /2 & the waves have different amplitudes.
-Phase difference is called the phase angle.
-It arises when one vector leads or lags a second by this amount.
-Here, the sine wave equation becomes:
y = Asin(2t + /2)

or = Asin(2t + ) Generalized sine wave.
where, is the phase angle relative to a reference sine wave.

3

You might also like