Comments on: Types of Graphs http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/ Learning shouldn't hurt. Let's share the insights that made difficult ideas click. Mon, 8 Sep 2008 11:27:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: jkumarKrishnan http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-142275 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:19:18 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-142275 more detail of graph making lesson. more detail of graph making lesson.

]]> by: Kalid http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-104328 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:12:53 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-104328 Hi John, thanks for the comment! I agree with both points, I was being loose with the terminology. Amplitude (max) vs. displacement (current) is a good distinction. Also, I agree light is not "weakest" in the valleys -- it's simply the most negative (measured with respect an arbitrary positive/negative distinction). I'll make the corrections in the article -- appreciate the feedback! Hi John, thanks for the comment! I agree with both points, I was being loose with the terminology. Amplitude (max) vs. displacement (current) is a good distinction.

Also, I agree light is not “weakest” in the valleys — it’s simply the most negative (measured with respect an arbitrary positive/negative distinction). I’ll make the corrections in the article — appreciate the feedback!

]]> by: John Caraher http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-94114 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:18:30 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/types-of-graphs/#comment-94114 Two cautions about your comments on representation of waves: your employment of the word "amplitude" differs from the standard technical usage. What varies is not the amplitude but what the Wikipedia figure labels "displacement." "Amplitude" is generally used to denote the maximum value of the displacement (or electric field strength or whatever other quantity is "waving"). That's why the figure shows amplitude by drawing a line under a peak, rather than some other arbitrary location. The other quibble I have is that when I think of that graph as representing a classical light wave (in which case we replace "displacement" with "electric field") I consider BOTH the peaks and valleys to be where the field is "strongest." Suppose we're looking at linear-polarized light and the vertical axis is some component of the electric field. The difference between the peaks and valleys is NOT that the field is weaker in the valleys, it's that it has the opposite direction. If I were to say the field is "weakest" anyplace it would be where the wave intersects the horizontal axis. But even then I have to remember that the magnetic field component (directed either into or out of the page) is at its greatest magnitude for those points. Two cautions about your comments on representation of waves: your employment of the word “amplitude” differs from the standard technical usage. What varies is not the amplitude but what the Wikipedia figure labels “displacement.” “Amplitude” is generally used to denote the maximum value of the displacement (or electric field strength or whatever other quantity is “waving”). That’s why the figure shows amplitude by drawing a line under a peak, rather than some other arbitrary location.

The other quibble I have is that when I think of that graph as representing a classical light wave (in which case we replace “displacement” with “electric field”) I consider BOTH the peaks and valleys to be where the field is “strongest.” Suppose we’re looking at linear-polarized light and the vertical axis is some component of the electric field. The difference between the peaks and valleys is NOT that the field is weaker in the valleys, it’s that it has the opposite direction. If I were to say the field is “weakest” anyplace it would be where the wave intersects the horizontal axis. But even then I have to remember that the magnetic field component (directed either into or out of the page) is at its greatest magnitude for those points.

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