Moderate

Whenever a transverse wave travelling in a denser medium is reflected from the boundary of the rarer medium, _.

Correct answer: D. An incident crest on reflection remains crest

  • A. An incident crest on reflection disappears
  • B. An incident trough on reflection becomes double
  • C. An incident crest on reflection becomes a trough
  • D. An incident crest on reflection remains crest

Explanation

If a crest of a transverse wave, in a denser medium, is incident at a point of a rarer medium, as the particles of rarer medium are free to vibrate, it will displace the particle at the point of incidence in the upward direction and after reflection from the rarer medium, a crest returns as a crest or a trough returns as a trough.

Last updated

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.

Exams that ask Physics questions like this

Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions