Chapter 16

 Reflection and transmission

 Wave energy and power

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring

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16.4 Reflection and transmission

 When the pulse reaches the fixed  When the pulse reaches the
end, it exerts an upward force on ring free to move, it exerts an
the support. The support exerts an upward force pulling the ring
equal but opposite force upward. Then the ring lowers
downward on the cord. This force back down and the end of the
generates the inverted reflected string simply creates a new
pulse. pulse identical to the first.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring

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16.4 Reflection and transmission

 When a pulse traveling on a light  When a pulse traveling on the

string reaches the boundary
between the light and the heavy
one, part is transmitted and part is
reflected. The reflected part is
inverted.
heavy string reaches the
boudary between the two
strings, again a part is reflected
and part is transmitted. The
reflected pulse is not inverted.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring

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16.5 Rate of energy transfer by sinusoidal waves
on strings
 As the wave moves, it transports energy as both kinetic and
elastic potential energy.
 Kinetic energy: a string element dm, oscillates transversely
in SHM as the wave passes through it. A kinetic energy is
associated with its transverse velocity vy. When the element
is at y=0 (element b), its kinetic energy is maximum and
when the element is at its extreme position (element a) its
kinetic energy is zero.
 Potential energy: the wave must necessarily stretch the
string. The length of a string element must increase and
decrease in a periodic way to fit the sinusoidal wave. Elastic
energy is associated with these length changes.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring

2019-2020 4
16.5 Rate of energy transfer by sinusoidal waves
on strings

𝑣
  𝑦 =0

𝑣
  𝑦 , 𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝑣
  𝑦 =0

Kinetic energy Elastic energy

1 1
K    A 
2 2
U    A 
2 2

4 4
PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring
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16.5 Rate of energy transfer by sinusoidal waves
on strings
 The total energy in one wavelength:
1
E  K   U    2 A2
2
 The power or the rate of energy transfer
associated with the mechanical energy:

1
E E 2
 A
2 2
1
P     2 A2 v
t T T 2

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring

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