How Does Loudspeaker Movement Affect the Phase of Reflected Waves?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sarah0001
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on how the movement of a loudspeaker affects the phase of reflected waves and their interference with direct waves. Participants express confusion about the relationship between the loudspeaker's movement and the phase changes of both incident and reflected waves. A request for a diagram to visualize these phase changes is made, emphasizing the need to understand path differences. It is noted that there is a constant phase difference between incident and reflected waves, which raises questions about why the microphone does not record maxima or minima. The conversation concludes with inquiries about how changes in distance between the loudspeaker, screen, and microphone affect path differences and phase relationships.
Sarah0001
Messages
31
Reaction score
1
Homework Statement
A loudspeaker L is placed between a microphone M and a screen S reflecting
sound waves as sketched below. The loudspeaker emits sound of fixed wavelength
λ in all directions. When the screen is moving slowly, to the right along the
x direction (slowly in comparison with the speed of sound), the microphone
records minima and maxima of the sound intensity.

What is the distance between two screen positions giving two successive maxima? Would the
microphone record minima and maxima if
(a) the loudspeaker or
(b) the microphone is moving along x direction instead of the screen?
Relevant Equations
.
a) When the loudspeaker is moving along the x direction instead of the screen, I understand that the phase of which the of the reflected wave meets the loudspeaker is changing, and so when the reflected wave interferes with waves behind the loudspeaker reaching microphase, the phase of the reflected wave meeting microphone also changes as L(loudspeaker moves). However I am slightly sceptical of this as I cannot visualise how the reflected waves phase changes as L moves towards the screen because surely the incident wave's phase would change too in order for the reflected waves phase to change?
(Q1) Would it be possible to draw a diagram to visualise how the phase of the reflected wave (or both waves if infact phase of both waves) changes relative to loudspeaker, as the loudspeaker moves towards the screen?

(b) For B I understand there is a constant phase difference as the wave indicent to the screen and the reflected waves are not being shifted, but I don't understand how this means the Microphone will not record a maxima or minima.
Qimg.attached
234971-ad54c04e67a25a3d0cc30a2443cf54d7.png
 

Attachments

  • 2019-10-25.png
    2019-10-25.png
    42.3 KB · Views: 238
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi,

Did you answer
What is the distance between two screen positions giving two successive maxima?
?

for (a) I wouldn't worry about indirect or downstream interference : just look at the path difference of direct wave and reflected wave. Same for (b).
 
BvU said:
Hi,

Did you answer ?

for (a) I wouldn't worry about indirect or downstream interference : just look at the path difference of direct wave and reflected wave. Same for (b).
Yes, distance between adjacent maxima is lambda/2. Also, I don't understand how the path difference leads to the solution that it is (a) Yes and for (b) No for recording minimia and maxima, the solution given itself is in terms of changing phases, so I would like to understand the solution further.
 
If , when you move the speaker away from the microphone, the distance between microphone and speaker changes by +1 cm, what happens to the other path (speaker-screen-microphone) ? So what happens to the path difference ?

(b) Same question, but now move the microphone.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top