That is, if an upward displaced pulse is incident towards a fixed end boundary, it will reflect and return as a downward displaced pulse. When one observes the reflected pulse off the fixed end, there are several notable observations. What characteristics and properties could describe its motion? The focus of the discussion will be on the reflected pulse.
This pulse is called the incident pulse since it is incident towards (i.e., approaching) the boundary with the pole. If a pulse is introduced at the left end of the rope, it will travel through the rope towards the right end of the medium. This end of the rope is referred to as a fixed end. Because the right end of the rope is attached to a pole (which is attached to a lab bench) (which is attached to the floor that is attached to the building that is attached to the Earth), the last particle of the rope will be unable to move when a disturbance reaches it. One end will be securely attached to a pole on a lab bench while the other end will be held in the hand in order to introduce pulses into the medium. The questions that are listed above are the types of questions we seek to answer when we investigate the boundary behavior of waves.įirst consider an elastic rope stretched from end to end. When one medium ends, another medium begins the interface of the two media is referred to as the boundary and the behavior of a wave at that boundary is described as its boundary behavior.
What affect does reflection have upon a wave? Does reflection of a wave affect the speed of the wave? Does reflection of a wave affect the wavelength and frequency of the wave? Does reflection of a wave affect the amplitude of the wave? Or does reflection affect other properties and characteristics of a wave's motion? The behavior of a wave (or pulse) upon reaching the end of a medium is referred to as boundary behavior.
A sound wave traveling through air within a canyon reflects off the canyon wall and returns to its original source. A sound wave is known to reflect off canyon walls and other obstacles to produce an echo. One example of this has already been mentioned in Lesson 2. As a wave travels through a medium, it will often reach the end of the medium and encounter an obstacle or perhaps another medium through which it could travel.
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