All Problems

Elastic Waves. Acoustics.

Problem 4.152

A plane wave of frequency ω\omega propagates so that a certain phase of oscillation moves along the x,y,zx, y, z axes with velocities v1v_{1}, v2,v3v_{2}, v_{3} respectively. Find the wave vector k\mathbf{k}, assuming the unit vectors ex,ey,ez\mathrm{e}_ {x}, \mathrm{e}_ {y}, \mathrm{e}_ {z} of the coordinate axes to be assigned.

Reveal Answer
k=ω(exv1+eyv2+ezv3)\mathbf{k}=\omega\left(\frac{\mathbf{e}_{x}}{v_{1}}+\frac{\mathbf{e}_{y}}{v_{2}}+\frac{\mathbf{e}_{z}}{v_{3}}\right)