Mechanical wave reflection at a boundary

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the mechanical wave reflection at a boundary, specifically analyzing the equations governing incident, reflected, and transmitted waves. The equations provided include the incident and reflected wave in section A, the transmission reflected wave in section B, and the transmission wave in section C. Key boundary conditions are established to relate the waves at the boundary, leading to the conclusion that A' equals zero, indicating no reflected wave from the boundary under certain conditions. Participants emphasize the importance of matching equations to progress in solving the problem.

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Toby_phys
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Homework Statement


Capture.jpg


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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