1.138J / 2.062J / 18.376J Wave Propagation, Fall 2004
Wave behavior in the ocean. (Image courtesy of Prof. Chiang C. Mei.)
Highlights of this Course
This course features a set of animations, demonstrating wave propagation for group velocity and scattering objects, shown in the simulations sections. Also, sample homework assignments and lecture notes are in PDF versions for most of the topics in the course.
» View an older version of this course en Español or em Portugues courtesy of Universia. Please note that since our Spring 2005 publication, the translated version available from Universia may not have the most current content that is available on the MIT OCW site.
Course Description
This course discusses the Linearized theory of wave phenomena in applied mechanics. Examples are chosen from elasticity, acoustics, geophysics, hydrodynamics and other subjects. The topics include: basic concepts, one dimensional examples, characteristics, dispersion and group velocity, scattering, transmission and reflection, two dimensional reflection and refraction across an interface, mode conversion in elastic waves, diffraction and parabolic approximation, radiation from a line source, surface Rayleigh waves and Love waves in elastic media, waves on the sea surface and internal waves in a stratified fluid, waves in moving media, ship wave pattern, atmospheric lee waves behind an obstacle, and waves through a laminated media, etc.