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Question

Physics Question on Dimensional Analysis

The displacement of a progressive wave is represented by y=Asin(ωtkx)y=A\,sin\left(\omega t-kx\right) where xx is distance and tt is time. The dimensions of ωk\frac{\omega}{k} are same as those of

A

velocity

B

wave number

C

wavelength

D

frequency

Answer

velocity

Explanation

Solution

y=Asin(ωtkx)y=A\,sin\,\left(\omega t-kx\right) As (ωtkx)\left(\omega t-kx\right) represents an angle which is dimensionless, therefore [ω]=1[t]=[T1]\left[\omega\right]=\frac{1}{\left[t\right]}=\left[T^{-1}\right] and [k]=1[x]=[L1]\left[k\right]=\frac{1}{\left[x\right]}=\left[L^{-1}\right] [ωk]=[T1][L1]=[LT1]=\left[\frac{\omega}{k}\right]=\frac{\left[T^{-1}\right]}{\left[L^{-1}\right]}=\left[LT^{-1}\right]= velocity