Why does the pulse related to the inverted phase travel to the right?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding wave reflections at a fixed end, specifically why an inverted phase pulse travels to the right. The general wave equation solution is presented, leading to the boundary condition that results in a specific form for the wave traveling to the left. The confusion arises from the interpretation of a "virtual pulse" that seems to travel left, suggesting no reflection occurs. However, the conclusion is that this virtual pulse actually travels to the right, aligning with the wave's behavior after reflection. Ultimately, the phase of the wave moves to the right, maintaining consistency with the wave equation and boundary conditions.
Rodrigo Schmidt
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So I'm having a introductory study on waves and there's something that i can't understand when dealing with reflections on a fixed end. We have the general solution for the wave equation:
## y(x,t)=f(x-vt)+g(x+vt)##
Supposing that the fixed point is in the origin we have the boundary condition:
##y(0,t)=0##
Which leads to:
##f(-vt)=-g(vt)##
Using this, for an arbitrary pulse going to the left we have the solution (While this may seem strange, the equation below fits the boundary conditions and the wave equation):
##y(x,t)=g(x+vt)-g(vt-x)##
Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, before the reflection, the pulse would be, normally, traveling to the left and there would be something like a "virtual pulse" with inverted phase and position travelling, too, to the left. That would mean that when the real pulse reaches the origin, there would be no reflection. There's obviously an error in my logic and the book conclusion on the acquired solution is that the initially virtual pulse is traveling to the right (Which leads to the correct conclusion). What I'm not seeing on this second term? What leads to the conclusion that the pulse related to it travels to the right?
 
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Rodrigo Schmidt said:
What leads to the conclusion that the pulse related to it travels to the right?
The phase moves to the right.

In other words, after time vt it will have the same value at position x as it had at position x-vt at time t=0.
 
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