planar waves

el`Ol · 1st November 2007, 06:58 AM

Hello all!

I have a theoretical question about wave propagation:
Is the wavefront an uncurved planar generates for wavelengths far smaller than its diameter really more planar (less wavefront curving) than for wavelengths much larger, or is it just more limited in dispersion?

Thanks,
Oliver

JinMTVT · 2nd November 2007, 01:22 AM

also very intereted in this matter..

if anyone could make or link some videos or sketches
of how all this works...

nice question!

p3142 · 2nd November 2007, 01:09 PM

Q:Is the wavefront of an uncurved planar for smaller wavelengths really more planar than for larger wavelengths ?

Disregard effects occuring at the suspension for a moment.
Then only the planar membrane will emit sound and the sound is emitted from the limited area of the membrane.
Next, assume that all points of the planar membrane are in phase.

We thus get a simple first order approximation.

What you have now is exactly comparable to light diffraction of a single slit illuminated from behind by a planar light wave. This is a standard optics problem.
Google for pictures of diffraction at a single slit.

Hope that helps,

Regards,
Peter

Few · 2nd November 2007, 04:26 PM

The wave front immediately in front of the membrane will look quite planar, except near the edges where diffraction will create curved wave fronts. Very far from the source, at a distance that's large compared to the width of the membrane, the wave will appeared to have emanated from a narrow slit and so will exhibit curvature.

You make your own simulations, and modify the width of the source, here. Under setup choose "single slit", and choose "Mouse = Edit Walls." You can then use the mouse to make the slit wider and watch what happens. Make the slit narrow if you want to see the curvature that shows up many slit-widths away from the source.
Few

el`Ol · 3rd November 2007, 05:30 AM

Thanks for the link.
I believe to see that the favefront indeed becomes flatter with increasing source frequency.

JinMTVT · 5th November 2007, 04:20 AM

that is correct only if the "slit" is less large than the borders

if you make the slit half the screen in the simu
and then draw walls like in a room with the complete front wall as a piston, the waves stay planar for most of the travel

1st November 2007, 06:58 AM	#1
el`Ol diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bavarian Forest	planar waves Hello all! I have a theoretical question about wave propagation: Is the wavefront an uncurved planar generates for wavelengths far smaller than its diameter really more planar (less wavefront curving) than for wavelengths much larger, or is it just more limited in dispersion? Thanks, Oliver

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2nd November 2007, 01:22 AM	#2
JinMTVT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MTL	also very intereted in this matter.. if anyone could make or link some videos or sketches of how all this works... nice question!

2nd November 2007, 01:09 PM	#3
p3142 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: karlsruhe	Q:Is the wavefront of an uncurved planar for smaller wavelengths really more planar than for larger wavelengths ? Disregard effects occuring at the suspension for a moment. Then only the planar membrane will emit sound and the sound is emitted from the limited area of the membrane. Next, assume that all points of the planar membrane are in phase. We thus get a simple first order approximation. What you have now is exactly comparable to light diffraction of a single slit illuminated from behind by a planar light wave. This is a standard optics problem. Google for pictures of diffraction at a single slit. Hope that helps, Regards, Peter

2nd November 2007, 04:26 PM	#4
Few diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Maine, USA	The wave front immediately in front of the membrane will look quite planar, except near the edges where diffraction will create curved wave fronts. Very far from the source, at a distance that's large compared to the width of the membrane, the wave will appeared to have emanated from a narrow slit and so will exhibit curvature. You make your own simulations, and modify the width of the source, here. Under setup choose "single slit", and choose "Mouse = Edit Walls." You can then use the mouse to make the slit wider and watch what happens. Make the slit narrow if you want to see the curvature that shows up many slit-widths away from the source. Few

3rd November 2007, 05:30 AM	#5
el`Ol diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bavarian Forest	Thanks for the link. I believe to see that the favefront indeed becomes flatter with increasing source frequency.

5th November 2007, 04:20 AM	#6
JinMTVT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MTL	that is correct only if the "slit" is less large than the borders if you make the slit half the screen in the simu and then draw walls like in a room with the complete front wall as a piston, the waves stay planar for most of the travel

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