Reflection and Transmission of Acoustic Waves

density ratio (right/left)

1.5

velocity ratio (right/left)

0.5

time

Watch the reflection and transmission of a simple rectangular pulse as it impinges on a boundary that separates two media having differing density and velocity. The ratios of these parameters are set with the sliders, and the animation proceeds with the current settings. For density and velocity ratios both equal to 1, no reflection occurs; for a density or velocity ratio equal to zero, no transmission occurs.