What happens whenever a transverse wave travelling in a denser medium, is reflected from the boundary of the rarer medium?
Correct answer: B. The direction of its displacement is reversed
- A. The direction of its displacement remains same
- B. The direction of its displacement is reversed
- C. The displacement disappears
- D. The displacement becomes double
Explanation
Option A: The direction of its displacement remains the same: This means that when the transverse wave reflects from the boundary between the denser and rarer medium, the wave continues to oscillate in the same direction as it did before reflection. The amplitude of the wave may change, but its direction of displacement remains unchanged.Option B: The direction of its displacement is reversed: This option states that the wave's displacement direction is reversed upon reflection. However, this is incorrect for a transverse wave. In transverse waves, the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, and when reflected, the wave maintains its original direction.Option C: The displacement disappears: This option suggests that the displacement of the wave disappears upon reflection. However, this is not the case. The wave still carries energy and exhibits displacement after reflection.Option D: The displacement becomes double: This option implies that the displacement of the wave becomes double upon reflection. However, reflection does not alter the magnitude of the displacement of a transverse wave. The amplitude of the wave may change due to other factors, but it does not become double as a result of reflection.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Waves
Progressive waves transfer energy through oscillations, with wavelength, frequency, amplitude and wave speed related by v = fλ; sound speed depends on the medium. Superposition produces interference and stationary waves in strings and organ pipes, while simple harmonic motion describes the oscillation itself and must be distinguished from wave propagation.
Practise Waves
1,281 free Waves MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Waves questions
Longitudinal standing wave, in second harmonic mode, is established in a tube that is open at both ends. The length of the tube is 0.8m. What is the wavelength of the waves that make up the standing wave?
When two slightly different frequency waves superimpose, _ is formed.
A stationary wave is setup on a string of length 10 cm. Four loops are formed. What is the distance between two consecutive crests?
A point source broadcasts sound into a uniform medium. If the distance from the source is tripled, how does the intensity change?
In a stationary wave, the distance between adjacent antinodes is equal to:
Two tuning forks produces N beats. If one of these tuning forks has the frequency f, then the frequency of the other would be: