Asked in PMC Practice Test 17 (2021) 2021Moderate

If a transverse wave travelling in a rarer medium is incident on a denser medium, it is reflected such that:

Correct answer: B. It undergoes a phase change of 180˚

  • A. It undergoes a phase change of 90˚
  • B. It undergoes a phase change of 180˚
  • C. It undergoes a phase change of 270˚
  • D. It undergoes a phase change of 0˚

Explanation

When a wave undergoes reflection at a denser medium, then its crest is reflected as troughs and vice versa. So its phase changes at 180˚ so the correct option is B.

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About Stationary Waves

Stationary waves form when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude travel in opposite directions and interfere. The topic covers nodes, antinodes, wavelength, phase, resonance, and the allowed frequencies on strings and in air columns. Unlike progressive waves, stationary waves do not transfer energy from one point to another.

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