The Physics of Waves

by Howard Georgi (Harvard University).

This MyST edition is a web-native conversion of the structured LibreTexts edition of Georgi’s open textbook on vibrations and waves.

Source and license¶

© Howard Georgi. Originally published by Prentice Hall (1993); rights returned to the author for the online edition. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Suggested citation: Georgi, H. The Physics of Waves. Harvard University. LibreTexts edition.

Preview locally¶

npm install
npm run start

Table of contents¶

• The Physics of Waves
• Preface
• 1. Harmonic Oscillation
• 2. Forced Oscillation and Resonance
• 3. Normal Modes
• 4. Symmetries
• 5. Waves
• 6. Continuum Limit and Fourier Series
• 7. Longitudinal Oscillations and Sound
• 8. Traveling Waves
• 9. The Boundary at Infinity
• 10. Signals and Fourier Analysis
• 11. Two and Three Dimensions
• 12. Polarization
• 13. Interference and Diffraction
• 14. Shocks and Wakes
• Closing
  • Glossary