Mechanical wave reflection at a boundary

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the reflection and transmission of mechanical waves at a boundary, with specific equations representing incident, reflected, and transmitted waves in different sections. Boundary conditions are established to ensure continuity of wave functions and their derivatives at the interfaces. The user attempts to solve the equations but finds that they can only deduce that A' equals zero. A suggestion is made to align two equations that both contain B + B' to further progress in the solution. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly applying boundary conditions to analyze wave behavior at boundaries.
Toby_phys
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Homework Statement


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Homework Equations


The right hand section (A) has an incident and reflected wave
$$y_1=Ae^{i(kx+\omega t)} +A'e^{i(-kx+\omega t)} $$

The middle section (B) has a transmission reflected wave

$$y_2=Be^{i(k_2x+\omega t)} +B'e^{i(-k_2x+\omega t)}$$

Section (C) just has the transmission wave:
$$y_3=Ce^{i(kx+\omega t)}$$

where ##k=2\pi / \lambda## and ##\omega = 2\pi \upsilon ##. The actual wave is the real part of the complex exponential.

We have the boundary conditions:

$$(1)y_3(0,t)=y_2(0,t) \text{ and } (2)\frac{\partial y_3(0,t)}{\partial x}=\frac{\partial y_2(0,t)}{\partial x}$$
and
$$(3) y_1(a,t)=y_2(a,t) \text{ and } (4) \frac{\partial y_1(a,t)}{\partial x}=\frac{\partial y_2(a,t)}{\partial x}$$

The Attempt at a Solution



by applying condition 1:
$$C=B+B'$$
condition 2:
$$Ck=(B-B')k_1 $$
condition 3:
$$Ae^{i(2\pi n k/k_1)}+A'e^{i(2\pi n k/k_1)}=B+B'$$
condition 4:
$$Ake^{i(2\pi n k/k_1)}-A'ke^{i(2\pi n k/k_1)}=k_1(B-B')$$We get ##A'=0## but that is the only progression I can make.

Please help, thank you x
 
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Toby_phys said:
We get A'=0 but that is the only progression I can make.
Two of your equations have B+B' on the right hand side. Match those up.
 
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