Pulse

Definition

A pulse is a single, non-repeating disturbance that moves through a medium. It can be characterized by its amplitude, duration, and speed.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A pulse travels through a medium by displacing particles in the direction of propagation.
2. The speed of a pulse depends on the properties of the medium through which it travels.
3. A pulse can reflect and transmit when it encounters a boundary between two different media.
4. Superposition principle applies to pulses: when two pulses meet, their amplitudes add algebraically.
5. The shape of a pulse can change due to dispersion if the medium has frequency-dependent properties.

Review Questions

• What factors determine the speed of a pulse in a given medium?
• How does the superposition principle apply to pulses?
• What happens to a pulse when it encounters a boundary between two different media?

Related terms

Wave: A periodic disturbance that travels through space and matter, transferring energy from one point to another without transferring matter.

Amplitude:

The maximum displacement of points on a wave or pulse from their equilibrium position.

Medium:

The substance or material through which a wave or pulse travels.