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Physics of Music April 4, 2006 Impedance Matching When we studied standing waves on a string and worked with the wave demonstrators we found that the standing wave is formed because the reflection off of one end of the string combines in exactly the right way with the wave being generated at the other end of the string. So what, exactly, makes the standing wave inside the air column of a brass instrument? In this activity we will use the wave demonstrator to get a feeling for what happens at the open end of a brass instrument. Equipment: Shive wave demonstrator in three sections. Objectives To observe the effects of impedance matching and mismatching on the reflection and transmission of waves at an interface between two media. To consider the mechanism for establishing standing waves in the air columns of wind instruments. You should have three sections of wave demonstrator, one with short sticks, one with long sticks and a third tapered section. There should also be two couplers to join the three sections together. Put one end of the short stick section against one end of the long stick section and join them together with one of the couplers. Start generating a wave at the free end of the short stick segment while watching the junction between the two sections (a pulse might be the best way to start). Observe both the reflected wave (goes back in the short sticks) and the transmitted wave (moves into the long sticks). Describe, qualitatively, their relative strengths. Now uncouple the two sections and insert the tapered section between them, with the narrow end next to the short sticks and the wide end next to the long sticks. Join the three segments together with the couplers. Repeat step two, paying particular attention to any changes in the amounts of reflected and transmitted waves. From your observations in steps 2 and 4, describe the conditions which give the most transmission and which conditions maximize reflection.