SUPERPOSITION AND REFLECTION OF PULSES Waves

137

I. Pulses on a spring
A tutorial instructor will demonstrate various pulses on a stretched spring. Observe the motion of
the pulse and of the spring in each case and discuss your observations with your classmates.

A. A piece of yarn has been attached to the spring. How did the motion of the yarn compare to
the motion of the pulse for each type of pulse that you observed?

The terms transverse or longitudinal are often used to describe the types of pulses you have
observed in the demonstration. To what feature of a pulse do these terms refer?

For the rest of this tutorial we will focus on transverse pulses along the spring.

B. During the demonstration, did any of the following features change significantly as a pulse
moved along the spring? (Ignore what happens when a pulse reaches the end of the spring.)

• the amplitude of the pulse

• the width of the pulse

• the shape of the pulse

• the speed of the pulse

C. During the demonstration, each of the following quantities was changed. Did any of the
changes significantly affect the speed of the pulse? If so, how?

• the tension (e.g., by stretching the spring to a greater length)

• the amplitude of the pulse

• the width of the pulse

• the shape of the pulse

Tutorials in Introductory Physics ©Prentice Hall, Inc.

McDermott, Shaffer, & P.E.G., U. Wash. First Edition, 2002
Waves Superposition and reflection of pulses
138

II. Superposition
A. The snapshots below show two pulses approaching each other on a spring. The pictures were
taken at equal time intervals. The pulses are on the "same side" of the spring (i.e., each
displaces the spring toward the top of the page).

1. When the pulses meet, does each

pulse continue to move in the
direction it was originally moving, or 1
does each reverse direction?

G~ve evidence from the photos to 2

support your answer.

2. When the pulses completely overlap, 4

as shown in snapshot 5, how does the
shape of the disturbance in the spring
compare to the shapes of the
individual pulses? 5

6
3. Describe how you could use the
principle of superposition to
determine the shape of the spring at
any instant while the pulses
7
"overlap."

4. Two pulses (1 and 2) approach

one another as shown. The I
bottom diagram shows the
location of pulse 1 a short time
later.

In the space at right, sketch the

location of pulse 2 at this later
time. On the same diagram,
sketch the shape of the spring at
this instant in time.

Tutorials in Introductory Physics ©Prentice Hall, Inc.

McDermott, Shaffer, & P.E.G., U. Wash. First Edition, 2002
 Superposition and reflection of pulses Waves
139

B. Two pulses of equal width and equal amplitude approach each other on opposite sides of a
spring (i.e., the pulses displace the spring in opposite directions). The snapshots below were
taken at equal time intervals.

1. Is the behavior of the spring consistent

with the principle of superposition? If
so, which quantity is "added" in this 1
case? If not, explain why not.

2. Below is a simplified representation of

2
both individual pulses at a time
between the instants shown in
snapshots 4 and 5.
3
Sketch the shape of the spring at the
instant shown.
4
~ i l' .
I--t-+-+--t"- ·····4··. . ·. ._.- . .-..~ . -L. .~f---+.-+---1
~ 1/

3. Let point Q be the point on the spring

midway between the pulses, as shown.
6
Describe the motion of point Q during
the time interval shown.
7
4. Which, if any, of the following
changes would affect the motion of
point Q? Explain.
8
• doubling the amplitude of both
pulses

• doubling the amplitude of just one

9
pulse

• doubling the width of just one pulse

5. Consider an asymmetric pulse as shown.

What shape would a second pulse need to

have in order that point Q not move as the
two pulses pass each other?

On the diagram, indicate the shape,

location, and direction of motion of the
second pulse at the instant shown.

Tutorials in Introductory Physics ©Prentice Hall, Inc.

McDennott, Shaffer, & P.E.G., U. Wash. First Edition, 2002
Waves Superposition and reflection of pulses
140

III. Reflection
A. Reflection from a fixed end
The snapshots at right show a pulse being reflected from
the end of a spring that is held fixed in place.
1. Describe the similarities and differences between the
incident pulse (the pulse moving toward the fixed end)
and the reflected pUlse.

2. Consider the situation in part B of section II, in which

two pulses on opposite sides of a spring meet. Use a
piece of paper to cover the right half of those
photographs so that the portion of spring to the left of
point Q is uncovered.

How does the behavior of the uncovered portion of

spring (including point Q) compare to the behavior of
the spring shown at right?

The results of the exercise above suggest a model for the reflection of pulses from fixed ends
of springs. We imagine that the spring extends past the fixed end and that we can send a pulse
along the imaginary portion toward the fixed end. We choose the shape, orientation, and location
of the imagined pulse so that as it passes the incident pulse, the end of the spring remains fixed.
(Such a condition that governs the behavior of the end of the spring is an example of a boundary
condition.) In this case, the reflected and imagined pulses have the same shape and orientation.

3. A pulse with speed

1.0 mls is incident
on the fixed end of
a spring.

Determine the
shape of the spring
at (a) t = 0.2 s,
(b) t = 0.4 s, and
(c) t = 0.6 s.

How does the

shape of the
reflected pulse
compare to that of
the incident pulse?

B. Reflection from a free end

Before you leave class, observe a demonstration bf a pulse reflecting from the free end of a
spring. Record your observations. You will investigate this situation in the homework.

Tutorials in Introductory Physics ©Prentice Hall, Inc.

McDermott, Shaffer, & P.E.G., U. Wash. First Edition, 2002