Past exam of the physics A course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / Paper 2 / Section A / 1

The characteristic impedance of a stretched string is $Z=T/c=\rho c$, since its wave speed obeys $c^2=T/\rho$. Put the endpoint at $x=0$ and use displacement complex amplitudes $A$ incident and $B$ reflected:At the massless end, the string's transverse force $-T{\Psi }_x$ balances the damper's force $-\alpha {\Psi }_t$. Thus $T{\Psi }_x=-\alpha {\Psi }_t$, or $Z(A-B)=\alpha (A+B)$. This viscous termination of a stretched string hasHalf the incident mean power is reflected when $r=\pm 1/\sqrt{2}$, giving two positive solutions:They are approximately $0.1716\rho c$ and $5.828\rho c$, in $\mathrm{kg}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$. The smaller coefficient produces no reflected displacement-phase reversal; the larger produces a $\pi$ reversal. Both dissipate the remaining half of the incident power. Choosing the impedance-matched value $\alpha =\rho c$ would instead absorb all of it.