Pulses Wave Building Blocks
Pulse A pulse is a single vibratory disturbance that transfers energy but NOT mass. Amplitude is the height of a pulse above equilibrium – shows ENERGY A medium is a continuum of particles of a single type ex: Water, air, metal rod, etc. The medium stores then releases energy as pulses travel through it.
Pulse Reflection Pulses reflected by a: Fixed Point Floating Point Pulse is reflected in the opposite direction Floating Point Pulse is reflected in the same direction
Changing Mediums When pulses change mediums they are: PARTLY TRASMITTED PARTLY REFLECTED Slow medium (high density) to Fast medium (low density) Fast medium (low density) to Slow medium (high density)
Interference Pulses that encounter one another in a medium INTERFERE. Pulse amplitudes are added together using the principle of SUPERPOSITION Two types of interference: CONSTRUCTIVE and DESTRUCTIVE
Constructive Interference Occurs when amplitude of two pulses is IN THE SAME DIRECTION ENERGY of the two pulses is ADDED together to produce a HIGHER AMPLITUDE.
Example #1 How would the following two pulses interfere with one another?
Destructive Interference Occurs when pulse amplitudes are IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ENERGY of the two pulses PARTIALLY or COMPLETELY CANCEL OUT to produce a LOWER AMPLITUDE.
Example #2 How would the following two pulses interfere with one another?