Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 17 - Waves-II - Problems - Page 511: 79b

Answer

$d = 1.47~m$

Work Step by Step

To be exactly in phase at the detector, the path difference should be $0.500~\lambda$, since the reflection shifts the sound wave by $0.500~\lambda$ Then the path length from the source to the flat surface must be $\frac{L}{2}+\frac{\lambda}{4}$: We can find the distance from the source to the flat surface: $\frac{L}{2}+\frac{\lambda}{4} = 5.00~m+\frac{0.850~m}{4} = 5.2125~m$ We can find $d$: $d = \sqrt{(5.2125~m)^2-(5.00~m)^2} = 1.47~m$
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