Behavior of Waves - Boundary Behavior

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. One example of this has
already been mentioned in Lesson 2. A sound wave is known to reflect off canyon walls and other
obstacles to produce an echo. A sound wave traveling through air within a canyon reflects off the
canyon wall and returns to its original source. 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. 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. The questions that are listed above are the types of questions we seek to
answer when we investigate the boundary behavior of waves.

Fixed End Reflection

First consider an elastic rope stretched from end to end. 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. 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. This end
of the rope is referred to as a fixed end.
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 pulse is called the incident pulse since it is incident towards (i.e.,
approaching) the boundary with the pole. When the incident pulse reaches the boundary, two
things occur:
• A portion of the energy carried by the pulse is reflected and returns towards the left end of the
rope. The disturbance that returns to the left after bouncing off the pole is known as
the reflected pulse.
• A portion of the energy carried by the pulse is transmitted to the pole, causing the pole to
vibrate.
Because the vibrations of the pole are not visibly obvious, the energy transmitted to it is not
typically discussed. The focus of the discussion will be on the reflected pulse. What characteristics
and properties could describe its motion?
When one observes the reflected pulse off the fixed end, there are several notable observations.
First the reflected pulse is inverted. That is, if an upward displaced pulse is incident towards a
fixed end boundary, it will reflect and return as a downward displaced pulse. Similarly, if a
downward displaced pulse is incident towards a fixed end boundary, it will reflect and return as an
upward displaced pulse.

The inversion of the reflected pulse can be explained by returning to our conceptions of the
nature of a mechanical wave. When a crest reaches the end of a medium ("medium A"), the last
particle of the medium A receives an upward displacement. This particle is attached to the first
particle of the other medium ("medium B") on the other side of the boundary. As the last particle

Physics 123 Page 1

 particle of the other medium ("medium B") on the other side of the boundary. As the last particle
of medium A pulls upwards on the first particle of medium B, the first particle of medium B pulls
downwards on the last particle of medium A. This is merely Newton's third law of action-
reaction. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The upward pull on the first
particle of medium B has little effect upon this particle due to the large mass of the pole and the
lab bench to which it is attached. The effect of the downward pull on the last particle of medium
A (a pull that is in turn transmitted to the other particles) results in causing the upward
displacement to become a downward displacement. The upward displaced incident pulse thus
returns as a downward displaced reflected pulse. It is important to note that it is the heaviness of
the pole and the lab bench relative to the rope that causes the rope to become inverted upon
interacting with the wall. When two media interact by exerting pushes and pulls upon each other,
the most massive medium wins the interaction. Just like in arm wrestling, the medium that loses
receives a change in its state of motion.
Other notable characteristics of the reflected pulse include:
• The speed of the reflected pulse is the same as the speed of the incident pulse.
• The wavelength of the reflected pulse is the same as the wavelength of the incident pulse.
• The amplitude of the reflected pulse is less than the amplitude of the incident pulse.
Of course, it is not surprising that the speed of the incident and reflected pulse are identical since
the two pulses are traveling in the same medium. Since the speed of a wave (or pulse) is
dependent upon the medium through which it travels, two pulses in the same medium will have
the same speed. A similar line of reasoning explains why the incident and reflected pulses have the
same wavelength. Every particle within the rope will have the same frequency. Being connected to
one another, they must vibrate at the same frequency. Since the wavelength of a wave depends
upon the frequency and the speed, two waves having the same frequency and the same speed
must also have the same wavelength. Finally, the amplitude of the reflected pulse is less than the
amplitude of the incident pulse since some of the energy of the pulse was transmitted into the
pole at the boundary. The reflected pulse is carrying less energy away from the boundary
compared to the energy that the incident pulse carried towards the boundary. Since the
amplitude of a pulse is indicative of the energy carried by the pulse, the reflected pulse has a
smaller amplitude than the incident pulse.

Flickr Physics Photo

This sequence photography photo shows an upward displaced pulse traveling from the left end of
a wave machine towards the right end. The right end is held tightly; it is a fixed end. The wave
reflects off this fixed end and returns as a downward displaced pulse. Reflection off a fixed end
results in inversion.

Physics 123 Page 2

 Free End Reflection
Now consider what would happen if the end of the rope were free to move. Instead of being
securely attached to a lab pole, suppose it is attached to a ring that is loosely fit around the pole.
Because the right end of the rope is no longer secured to the pole, the last particle of the rope
will be able to move when a disturbance reaches it. This end of the rope is referred to as a free
end.
Once more 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. When the incident pulse reaches the end of the medium,
the last particle of the rope can no longer interact with the first particle of the pole. Since the
rope and pole are no longer attached and interconnected, they will slide past each other. So when
a crest reaches the end of the rope, the last particle of the rope receives the same upward
displacement; only now there is no adjoining particle to pull downward upon the last particle of
the rope to cause it to be inverted. The result is that the reflected pulse is not inverted. When an
upward displaced pulse is incident upon a free end, it returns as an upward displaced pulse after
reflection. And when a downward displaced pulse is incident upon a free end, it returns as a
downward displaced pulse after reflection. Inversion is not observed in free end reflection.

A pulse is introduced into the left end of a wave machine. The incident pulse is displaced upward.
When it reaches the right end, it reflects back. The reflected pulse is not inverted. It is also
displaced upward.

The above discussion of free end and fixed end reflection focuses upon the reflected pulse. As
was mentioned, the transmitted portion of the pulse is difficult to observe when it is transmitted
into a pole. But what if the original medium were attached to another rope with different
properties? How could the reflected pulse and transmitted pulse be described in situations in
which an incident pulse reflects off and transmits into a second medium?

Transmission of a Pulse Across a Boundary from Less to More

Dense
Let's consider a thin rope attached to a thick rope, with each rope held at opposite ends by
people. And suppose that a pulse is introduced by the person holding the end of the thin rope. If
this is the case, there will be an incident pulse traveling in the less dense medium (the thin rope)
towards the boundary with a more dense medium (the thick rope).

Upon reaching the boundary, the usual two behaviors will occur.
• A portion of the energy carried by the incident pulse is reflected and returns towards the left end
of the thin rope. The disturbance that returns to the left after bouncing off the boundary is
known as the reflected pulse.
• A portion of the energy carried by the incident pulse is transmitted into the thick rope. The
disturbance that continues moving to the right is known as the transmitted pulse.
The reflected pulse will be found to be inverted in situations such as this. During the interaction

Physics 123 Page 3

 The reflected pulse will be found to be inverted in situations such as this. During the interaction
between the two media at the boundary, the first particle of the more dense medium overpowers
the smaller mass of the last particle of the less dense medium. This causes an upward displaced
pulse to become a downward displaced pulse. The more dense medium on the other hand was at
rest prior to the interaction. The first particle of this medium receives an upward pull when the
incident pulse reaches the boundary. Since the more dense medium was originally at rest, an
upward pull can do nothing but cause an upward displacement. For this reason, the transmitted
pulse is not inverted. In fact, transmitted pulses can never be inverted. Since the particles in this
medium are originally at rest, any change in their state of motion would be in the same direction
as the displacement of the particles of the incident pulse.
The Before and After snapshots of the two media are shown in the diagram below.

Comparisons can also be made between the characteristics of the transmitted pulse and those of
the reflected pulse. Once more there are several noteworthy characteristics.
• The transmitted pulse (in the more dense medium) is traveling slower than the reflected pulse (in
the less dense medium).
• The transmitted pulse (in the more dense medium) has a smaller wavelength than the reflected
pulse (in the less dense medium).
• The speed and the wavelength of the reflected pulse are the same as the speed and the
wavelength of the incident pulse.
One goal of physics is to use physical models and ideas to explain the observations made of the
physical world. So how can these three characteristics be explained? First recall fromLesson
2 that the speed of a wave is dependent upon the properties of the medium. In this case, the
transmitted and reflected pulses are traveling in two distinctly different media. Waves always
travel fastest in the least dense medium. Thus, the reflected pulse will be traveling faster than the
transmitted pulse. Second, particles in the more dense medium will be vibrating with the same
frequency as particles in the less dense medium. Since the transmitted pulse was introduced into
the more dense medium by the vibrations of particles in the less dense medium, they must be
vibrating at the same frequency. So the reflected and transmitted pulses have the different speeds
but the same frequency. Since the wavelength of a wave depends upon the frequency and the
speed, the wave with the greatest speed must also have the greatest wavelength. Finally, the
incident and the reflected pulse share the same medium. Since the two pulses are in the same
medium, they will have the same speed. Since the reflected pulse was created by the vibrations of
the incident pulse, they will have the same frequency. And two waves with the same speed and
the same frequency must also have the same wavelength.

Flickr Physics Photo

A wave machine is used to demonstrate the behavior of a wave at a boundary.

Physics 123 Page 4

A wave machine is used to demonstrate the behavior of a wave at a boundary.
TOP: An incident pulse is introduced into the right end of the wave machine. It travels through
the less dense medium until it reaches the boundary with a more dense medium.
MIDDLE: At the boundary, both reflection and transmission occur.
BOTTOM: The reflected pulse is inverted and of about the same length (though a smaller
amplitude) as the incident pulse. The transmitted pulse is shorter and slower than the incident
and transmitted pulse.

Transmission of a Pulse Across a Boundary from More to Less

Dense
Finally, let's consider a thick rope attached to a thin rope, with the incident pulse originating in
the thick rope. If this is the case, there will be an incident pulse traveling in the more dense
medium (thick rope) towards the boundary with a less dense medium (thin rope). Once again
there will be partial reflection and partial transmission at the boundary. The reflected pulse in this
situation will not be inverted. Similarly, the transmitted pulse is not inverted (as is always the
case). Since the incident pulse is in a heavier medium, when it reaches the boundary, the first
particle of the less dense medium does not have sufficient mass to overpower the last particle of
the more dense medium. The result is that an upward displaced pulse incident towards the
boundary will reflect as an upward displaced pulse. For the same reasons, a downward displaced
pulse incident towards the boundary will reflect as a downward displaced pulse.
The Before and After snapshots of the two media are shown in the diagram below.

Comparisons between the characteristics of the transmitted pulse and the reflected pulse lead to

Physics 123 Page 5

 Comparisons between the characteristics of the transmitted pulse and the reflected pulse lead to
the following observations.
• The transmitted pulse (in the less dense medium) is traveling faster than the reflected pulse (in
the more dense medium).
• The transmitted pulse (in the less dense medium) has a larger wavelength than the reflected pulse
(in the more dense medium).
• The speed and the wavelength of the reflected pulse are the same as the speed and the
wavelength of the incident pulse.
These three observations are explained using the same logic as used above.

Flickr Physics Photo

A wave machine is used to demonstrate the behavior of a wave at a boundary.
TOP: An incident pulse is introduced into the left end of the wave machine. It travels through the
more dense medium until it reaches the boundary with a less dense medium.
MIDDLE: At the boundary, both reflection and transmission occur.
BOTTOM: The reflected pulse is NOT inverted and of about the same length (though a smaller
amplitude) as the incident pulse. The transmitted pulse is longer and faster than the incident and
transmitted pulse.

The boundary behavior of waves in ropes can be summarized by the following principles:
• The wave speed is always greatest in the least dense rope.
• The wavelength is always greatest in the least dense rope.
• The frequency of a wave is not altered by crossing a boundary.
• The reflected pulse becomes inverted when a wave in a less dense rope is heading towards a
boundary with a more dense rope.
• The amplitude of the incident pulse is always greater than the amplitude of the reflected pulse.

From <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l3a.cfm>

Physics 123 Page 6