Fixed and Looped End

• When end is fixed, the reflected pulse is inverted with a 180 degree phase change (or a phase shift of λ/2)
• When end is looped (has movement), once the pulse hits the free boundary the pulse returns without phase change. Therefore returning the same as the incident pulse.
• When the transverse pulse reflects it has a smaller amplitude as some of the energy is lost and absorbed by the post (or as heat)
• Can be seen in the ROPE DENSITY TEST

  • as the pulse is sent from the light to dense end of the rope, some energy is reflected whilst the rest transmitted into the heavy end
  • a small proportion is transmitted whilst a large proportion is reflected