Boundary Behavior of Waves and Polarization
Describe the interaction between a wave and a boundary.
- A wave that travels from one medium to another can be transmitted or reflected, depending on the properties of the boundary separating the two media.
- A wave traveling from one medium to another (for example, a wave traveling between low-mass and high-mass strings) will result in reflected and transmitted waves.
- A reflected wave is inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave decreases.
- A reflected wave is not inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave increases.
- The frequency of a wave does not change when it travels from one medium to another.
- Transverse waves that are reflected from a surface, refracted through a medium, or pass through specific openings may be polarized.
- Transverse waves can be polarized and oscillate in a single plane.
- Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized.
- Polarization of a wave may result in a reduction of the wave’s intensity.
- Intensity is a measure of the amount of power transferred per unit area.
- The intensity of a wave is the average power per unit area over one period of the wave.
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