The elastodynamic Poynting vector bridges the gap in student understanding of complex wave phenomena

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-8-2005

Publication Title

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

DOI

10.1121/1.4785797

Abstract

The advent of powerful graphic desktop computers and software allows the modern physics or engineering student to be shown dynamic physical processes formerly considered too complicated to present at the introductory level. For some time now desktop computers have been capable of showing intricate patterns of time evolving physical systems. As a simple example, students can be shown the energy flux of surface guided waves in both time averaged and time animated forms. Both vacuum and fluid loaded examples in various geometries are considered as examples. In an introductory wave phenomena class that considers electromagnetic, acoustic, and elastodynamic waves, a consistent approach using the Poynting vector field serves to bridge the gap between understanding of wave behavior for the three different types.

Comments

Copyright 2005 Acoustical Society of America. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the Acoustical Society of America.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS