Reflection of sound from open pipe

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    Pipe Reflection Sound
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reflection of sound waves in an open pipe, specifically addressing how sound reflects at the open ends of the pipe when the medium remains the same inside and outside. Participants explore the phenomena of sound reflection, wave behavior, and the formation of stationary waves in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how sound reflects from the open ends of a pipe when the medium is the same inside and outside, suggesting a need for clarification on the phenomenon.
  • Others introduce concepts such as wave refraction around objects and the behavior of waves passing through gaps, proposing that the open end acts as a new point source for sound waves.
  • One participant mentions that most sound does not reflect back from the open boundary of the pipe, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the reflection process.
  • Another participant suggests that the formation of stationary waves in an open organ pipe is related to the reflection of sound at the open end.
  • A participant draws an analogy between sound reflection in pipes and wave reflection in strings, discussing the implications of acoustic impedance changes at the ends of the pipe.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of sound reflection in open pipes, with no consensus reached on the exact mechanisms involved. Multiple competing views and questions remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of the acoustic impedance at the ends of the pipe and the implications for wave behavior, but these aspects are not fully explored or agreed upon.

abhijitlohiya
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We know that when there is a change in medium there is reflection of sound.when it passsess through a pipe open at both end's , sound reflects.Actually the medium is same inside the pipe and outside the pipe, then how can we explain the reflection of sound from other end of pipe?[/color]
 
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I don't follow what you're saying. "...the reflection of sound from other end of pipe..." What does this mean?
 
Regardless, you should examine two closely-related phenomena:

1] when waves of any kind pass an object (such as the rim of a pipe), they will refract (bend) around the object
2] waves that pass through a gap in an object, or any kind of hole (such as the opening on the end of a pipe) will act as if that is the point source of a new wave, spreading out in all directions.
 
If you're referring to that 'hollow' sound, part of it is also reverberation of the pipe itself.
PS: While I can't speak for anyone else, I personally would ask you not to post in red. It's fine for highlights, but it hurts my ancient eyes to read much of it. :bugeye:
 
modification in the question

I mean when sound waves passing through pipe open at both ends ,it reflects from the open end boundary.if the medium and its density is same inside the pipe and outside the pipe, how the reflection of sound waves takes place?
 
Except for what has already been mentioned, the vast majority of the sound does not reflect back from the open boundary of the pipe.
 
abhijitlohiya said:
I mean when sound waves passing through pipe open at both ends ,it reflects from the open end boundary.if the medium and its density is same inside the pipe and outside the pipe, how the reflection of sound waves takes place?
Why don't you sketch us a diagram (2D) and upload it?
 
i think what abhijhit wants to ask is how are stationary waves formed in an open organ pipe . How does a ray get reflected from the open end ? is that you want to ask ?
 
amplitude of a standing wave ?

if two waves represented by equations y(x,t) = a sin(kx-wt) and y(x,t) = a sin(kx+wt) are superposed what will be the amplitude of the resultant wave . will it be 2asinkx or 2acoswt ? If i use the phasor method i do get 2acoswt but most of the books give it as 2asinkx .
 
  • #10
i think the issue here is about the sudden change of acousitical impedance at the end of the pipe.

think of a string that is tied to a brick wall at the far end (call that x=. send a wave down and it is inverted and reflected back

y(x,t) = f(x-ct) - f(x+ct)

were f(x) is the bump or waveshape far away from the reflection. and there are symmetry properties like f(-x)=f(x). that is like the pipe that is closed at the end and y(x,t) is the particle velocity (which has to be zero at the closed end).

now the open end pipe is more like a stretched out string that, instead of being tied to a brick wall on the far side, is tied to a slider of negligible weight on a pole that is perpendicular to the string and the friction of sliding up and down the pole is zero. then the wave equation for the particle velocity is

y(x,t) = f(x-ct) + f(x+ct)

in both the acoustical pipe and the stretched out string, what is happening is a sudden change of "transmission line" impedance of the medium or line. it's comparable to a transmission line with a short circuit or an open circuit at the far end.
 
Last edited:
  • #11
yes i mean the same.
 
  • #12
Maybe it would be a GOOD idea to NOT wait this long to come back and follow up on your question. A lapse of a year simply leaves the trail very cold.

Zz.
 
  • #13
Nevertheless, I recalled and learned some interesting, albeit simple, acoustics from this thread.
 

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