50 sec Fixed Wave Packets
Fixed Wave Packets

This video shows the reflection of a pulse propagating along a spring from an end that is fixed in space. Because the spring is fixed at the end there is an equal and opposite force applied to the spring from that of the deformation. The result is a reflected wave, which has a 180° phase shift from the incident wave. This reflection should be compared to a wave reflecting off of a free end (video), which does not experience a phase shift.