How Does Loudspeaker Movement Affect the Phase of Reflected Waves?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of a moving loudspeaker on the phase of reflected sound waves and their interference with direct waves, particularly in the context of wave behavior and path differences in a setup involving a microphone and a screen.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the movement of the loudspeaker and the phase changes of both incident and reflected waves. Questions arise about visualizing these changes and the implications for wave interference patterns. Some participants suggest focusing on path differences rather than indirect interference.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants seeking to clarify concepts related to phase differences and maxima/minima recording. Some guidance has been offered regarding the path difference, but there is no consensus on the implications of these changes for the microphone's recordings.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the effects of movement on wave behavior, including the distance changes between the loudspeaker, screen, and microphone. There are references to specific distances and phase relationships, but the full context of the problem setup is not detailed.

Sarah0001
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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
 

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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.
 

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