Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-a-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2021/paper-2/section-b/b6/b/solution
Past exam of the physics A course of the University of Cambridge 2021 Paper 2 Section B B6 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Place the junction at and use the complex amplitude convention . With incident displacement wave amplitude , writeHere and are displacement wave reflection and transmission coefficients, and . The junction is assumed massless, with no externally applied transverse force, and both strings have the common equilibrium tension . Continuity of displacement and transverse force givesSince , these become and . Solving,A larger right-hand mechanical impedance produces a reflected displacement with reversed sign, as expected in the fixed-end limit . Equal mechanical impedances give and .
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