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Contradiction in phase of reflected longitudinal waves

Physics Asked on May 30, 2021

While studying the fundamentals of sound waves in organ pipe, I noted that the fact about phase of reflected waves is contradicting while referring multiple sources

This book of mine describes the reflection from a rigid surface/closed end to be in phase

Reflected waves in phase

Whereas this one describes the reflection from a closed end to be 180° out of phase

Reflected waves out of phase

I found the same issue while referring some online portals on this topic. Why are they contradicting each other?

2 Answers

It isn't a contradiction. It is two different situations with different behavior. In the first, a sound wave reflects off a hard surface. A example is reflection from the closed end of an organ pipe. The second is reflection from the open end of an organ pipe.

A similar difference can be seen waves in springs. Here is a video from UCLA physics.

Answered by mmesser314 on May 30, 2021

Its a bit weird to compare the phase of a wave and its reflection, since their directions are different. Both the sources you have put up are saying the same thing: Compressions are reflected as compressions, and rarefactions are reflected as rarefactions.

Now because their directions are different, the phase difference is continuously changing, so I dont really know what the books mean when they say there is no phase difference, or there is $180^ circ$ phase difference. The important thing to understand is the bold statement above.

Answered by dnaik on May 30, 2021

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