Paper 1, Section II, 39D
Write down the linearized equations governing motion in an inviscid compressible fluid and, assuming an adiabatic relationship , derive the wave equation for the velocity potential . Obtain from these linearized equations the energy equation
and give expressions for the acoustic energy density and the acoustic intensity, or energyflux vector, I.
An inviscid compressible fluid occupies the half-space , and is bounded by a very thin flexible membrane of negligible mass at an undisturbed position . Small acoustic disturbances with velocity potential in the fluid cause the membrane to be deflected to . The membrane is supported by springs that, in the deflected state, exert a restoring force on an element of the membrane. Show that the dispersion relation for waves proportional to propagating freely along the membrane is
where is the density of the fluid and is the sound speed. Show that in such a wave the component of mean acoustic intensity perpendicular to the membrane is zero.