B1.26

Waves in Fluid and Solid Media
Part II, 2002

Starting from the equations governing sound waves linearized about a state with density ρ0\rho_{0} and sound speed c0c_{0}, derive the acoustic energy equation, giving expressions for the local energy density EE and energy flux I\mathbf{I}.

A sphere executes small-amplitude vibrations, with its radius varying according to

r(t)=a+Re(ϵeiωt)r(t)=a+\operatorname{Re}\left(\epsilon e^{i \omega t}\right)

with 0<ϵa0<\epsilon \ll a. Find an expression for the velocity potential of the sound, ϕ~(r,t)\tilde{\phi}(r, t). Show that the time-averaged rate of working by the surface of the sphere is

2πa2ρ0ω2ϵ2c0ω2a2c02+ω2a22 \pi a^{2} \rho_{0} \omega^{2} \epsilon^{2} c_{0} \frac{\omega^{2} a^{2}}{c_{0}^{2}+\omega^{2} a^{2}}

Calculate the value at r=ar=a of the dimensionless ratio c0Eˉ/Ic_{0} \bar{E} /|\overline{\mathbf{I}}|, where the overbars denote time-averaged values, and comment briefly on the limits c0ωac_{0} \ll \omega a and c0ωac_{0} \gg \omega a.