Wave Transmitted Amplitude Greater than Incident: Conditions?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter gyht42
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Waves
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion addresses the conditions under which the amplitude of a transmitted wave can exceed that of the incident wave when transitioning from a dense medium to a less dense medium. It is established that at the boundary, the incident wave splits into reflected and transmitted waves, resulting in different amplitudes due to the conservation of energy. The speed of waves on a string is inversely proportional to the string's mass, indicating that a transmitted wave on a less dense string travels faster. Additionally, the complexity increases when considering pressure waves in bulk matter, where wave types and material phase play significant roles.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave equations and boundary conditions
  • Knowledge of wave behavior in different media
  • Familiarity with the concept of wave amplitude and energy conservation
  • Basic principles of wave speed in relation to medium density
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the mathematical derivation of wave equations in different media
  • Investigate the effects of density on wave speed and amplitude
  • Learn about the types of waves in bulk matter and their characteristics
  • Examine practical applications of wave behavior in engineering and physics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, engineering students, and anyone interested in wave mechanics and the behavior of waves across different media.

gyht42
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
My question concerns a wave traveling from a dense into a less dense medium. Is it possible that the amplitude of the transmitted wave be greater than the amplitude of the incident wave? What conditions would apply?
 
Science news on Phys.org
Have you tried to analyze it using the wave equation and boundary conditions?
 
You may find this http://www.kettering.edu/physics/drussell/Demos/reflect/reflect.html" . At the boundary, the incident want splits into a reflected wave and a transmitted wave. The total power that was contained in the initial wave is now split among the reflected and transmitted wave, so the amplitudes must necessarily be different. Waves on a string travel at a speed inversely proportional to the string mass, so if the transmitted wave is on a less dense string, it will be going faster. If you are more interested in pressure waves through bulk matter, than it gets more complicated because there are different types of waves possible and the phase of the matter matters.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K