Wave ** Reflection

Average at Hard
and Boundary
Wave Type Wave speed Impedance Power/Intensity Boundary (
Material conditions
Parameters Z2 = )
y changes
y 1 sign
y(x,t), l 2 A 2c w = yi + yr = yt
Transverse on x T T 2 y
= l c w = T l y i y r y t - same
string l cw l 2 y rms
2
cw = + = x
T, rl 2
rms
l y cw
x x x sign

Longitudinal
1 (
Acoustic: v 22c w = )
Gas B = gP (
) , p B B 2 i + r = t changes sign
= B V = V c w
Liquid B = MB rv, B V cw v 2 rms
2
cw = pi + pr = pt p - same sign

Solid B = Y vrmsc w = rms

2 2
Z

r r V same sign
Transmission
V(xt,t), I(x,t) 1 1 Lo V E B/ Vi + Vr = Vt
= = c wLo = I changes
Line Lo, Co LoCo Co I I 2 Z = V 2 /Z Ii + Ir = It
sign
r r
E B/ = E 2c
1 E Ei + Er = Et E same sign
Electromagnetic E, B E E 2 /c = E 2 / Z
= = B changes
e, m B B = Z ( B / )
2
( Bi + Br ) / i = Bt / t sign
=

 **Wave parameters that reflect with a sign change (phase shift The equations for reflecting and transmitting intensity are the
p at a hard boundary (Z2 = infinity) have coefficients of same for all waves:
2
reflection and transmission: Ir ( Z1 Z 2 ) It 4Z1Z 2
Z Z2 2Z1 = and =
r = 1 and t = Ii (Z1 + Z 2 ) 2
Ii ( Z1 + Z 2 ) 2
Z1 + Z 2 Z1 + Z 2
Relationships to Snells law (EM waves) are:
Waves parameters that reflect with the same sign (phase shift k1 c 2 Z 2 n1 sin 2
zero) at a hard boundary (Z2 = infinity) have coefficients of = = = =
reflection and transmission: k2 c1 Z1 n 2 sin1

Z Z1 2Z 2 Reflection and transmission at refracting boundaries:
r = 2 and t = 2
4n1n 2
Z1 + Z 2 Z1 + Z 2 ( n 2 n1 ) T=
R= 2 2
( n 2 + n1 ) (n1 + n 2 )