Wave Motion - Mission WM5 Detailed Help

When comparing the wave characteristics of a wave in two different ropes, one can be sure that the wavelength and speed will be ____.


 
Wave Speed and Boundary Behavior:
When a wave or pulse traveling through a rope reaches a boundary with another rope, part of the incident pulse is reflected off the boundary and part of the incident pulse is transmitted across the boundary. The transmitted pulse is moving through a different rope than the incident pulse. Since the speed of a wave depends upon the properties of the rope, the speed of the transmitted pulse will be different than that of the incident pulse. The general rule for wave speed is that waves travel faster in the least dense rope (assuming all other variables are held constant).


 
Wavelength and Boundary Behavior:
The speed of a wave is not the only wave property that changes as a wave passes across the boundary between two ropes. The length of the wave changes as well. Like wave speed, the wavelength is always greatest in the least dense rope (assuming all other variables are held constant).


 

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