I know that $y=A\sin(\omega t-kx)$, but this can also be written as $y=A\sin \omega (t-x/v)$. What I don't understand is what the quantity $(t-x/v)$ represents. Both quantities have the units of time, but which time in space each quantity represents is what is confusing me.
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Related https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/304780/104696 – Farcher Aug 15 '18 at 14:42
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Related : Significance of wave number?. – Frobenius Aug 15 '18 at 14:59
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note that f(y-z) translates (shifts) f(y) to the right by the amount z. – user45664 Aug 15 '18 at 17:23
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The quantity $(t-x/v)$ does appear in electromagnetic and quantum field theory (and elsewhere), bearing the name 'retarded time', where $v$ is the speed of light. However, I would say that $A\sin(\omega t-kx)$ is the 'most meaningful' form of the wave, and without specific context, that quantity is very uninterpretable.
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Thank you. In my textbook x represtents the distance travelled by the wave and v is the veocity of the wave. What my book does not specify is which time, t stands for. I figured that if i knew the time in space, t stands for i would be able to understand how the overall equation works. – Energy Aug 15 '18 at 14:48