At the end of the tutorial superposition and reflection of pulses, you observed

Question

At the end of the tutorial superposition and reflection of pulses, you observed a demonstration of a pulse reflected from the free end of a spring. A row of paper cups was placed near a spring as shown in the top view diagram below. A pulse with an amplitude slightly less than the cup-spring distance was sent down the spring. On the diagram, indicate which cup(s) were hit by the spring during the demonstration. On the basis of your observation did the free spring have a maximum displacement that was greater than, less than, or equal to the amplitude of the incident pulse? On the basis of your answer above, were the incident and reflected pulses on the same side of the spring or on opposite sides of the spring Explain.

Explanation / Answer

The cup at the rightmost end of the string will be hit by the string .

on the basis of observation the free end of the string has greater displacement then the amplitude

at a free (soft) boundary, the restoring force is zero and the reflected wave has the same polarity (no phase change) as the incident wave and amplitude becomes double while reflecting

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