Past exam of the physics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / Section D / D13 / Solution

Substitution into the wave equation gives ${\partial }_x^2\psi +{\partial }_y^2\psi =-(k_x^2+k_y^2)\psi$ and ${\partial }_t^2\psi =-{\omega }^2\psi$. Therefore ${\omega }^2=c^2(k_x^2+k_y^2)$. The fixed edges at zero are automatically satisfied by the sine factors; the opposite edges requireNeither integer may vanish, because that would make the entire displacement zero.

The element's mass is $\rho dxdy$, and its speed is $-\omega A\sin (k_{x}x)\sin (k_{y}y)\sin (\omega t)$. Squaring and multiplying by half its mass gives the requested energy density. The two sine-squared spatial integrals are $a/2$ and $b/2$, soThere is no dissipation. The total mechanical energy equals the maximum kinetic energy, givingEquivalently, integrate the small-slope tension energy $\rho c^2|\nabla \psi {|}^2/2$ and use the dispersion relation.

For $b=4a/5$, the two lowest modes are $(p,q)=(1,1)$ and $(2,1)$:The fundamental has one antinode at $(a/2,b/2)$ and no interior nodal line. The next mode has a node along $x=a/2$ and opposite-sign antinodes at $(a/4,b/2)$ and $(3a/4,b/2)$. Every boundary is a node.

The square fundamental has $f=c\sqrt{2}/(2\beta a)$. Equating it to $f_{11}$ givesAt the same peak displacement amplitude and frequency, time-averaged kinetic energy is proportional to membrane area. ThereforeThe reciprocal ratio is $41/40$ if the rectangle is placed first.