# ΔAmplitude of wave on rope with a change in linear density

1. Dec 2, 2014

### Nathanael

Would it be correct to assume that if the linear density of a rope changes by a factor of $k$, then the amplitude of a wave traveling on the rope would change by a factor of $\frac{1}{\sqrt{k}}$? (Assuming tension and frequency are fixed.)
I get this by assuming the average power of the wave is unchanged by the change in linear density (and also because the average power depends on the square the amplitude and the linear density).

This is essentially what I'm wondering:
If the linear density ($\mu$) varies with the position ($x$) as described by some function, $\mu(x)$, then would the amplitude ($A$) as a function of $x$ be $A(x)=A_0\sqrt{\frac{\mu(0)}{\mu(x)}}$ ?
(Again, assuming tension and frequency are fixed.)

Last edited: Dec 2, 2014
2. Dec 3, 2014

### Orodruin

Staff Emeritus
You also need to consider that part of the wave will be reflected where the medium changes density. If you think about the limiting case where the new medium has a very large mass, it will essentially act as if the lighter part was fixed in a wall. Most of the power would then go into the reflected wave.

3. Dec 3, 2014

### Nathanael

Would the frequency of the reflected wave and that of the wave that moves along the denser part be the same? (If this is true, is the reason for it's truth related to the idea that the two rope densities have a 'common point'?)

What if the wave is traveling from a higher density to a lower density? A wave would still be reflected? Would the limiting case (as the density goes to zero) then be as if it were fixed to a frictionless ring? (A "free end" is what I think my book called it.) Then, the smaller the density of the second part, the more power would go in to reflected wave?

I haven't been able to see any way of determining how the power is distributed based on the relative density. Any insight?

If I were to continuously generate a wave, and then it were to cross some point where the density changes, part of it being reflected and part of it continuing on; would I then be creating a 'partially standing' wave? That is, would there be 'semi-nodes' where the amplitude never gets bigger than some limit? (The limit of the amplitude of the "semi-node" would depend on how much power is reflected.)

4. Dec 3, 2014

### Nathanael

What if the density of a rope varied linearly, [$\mu (x)=\mu_0+kx$] then what would you be able to say about a wave traveling along that rope?

Would it be as if a wave of increasing power are continuously being reflected? (But if that's so, and if I was right about waves reflecting when the density suddenly decreases, then wou have something like waves reflecting back and forth everywhere. That could either drastically confuse things or drastically simplify things; either way, I'm drastically curious.)