At normal incidence with identical impedances, the transmitted intensity relative to incident is

At normal incidence with identical impedances, the transmitted intensity relative to incident is

• A. 0
• B. 0.5
• C. 1
• D. 2

Answer: (C)

When the two media have identical impedances, there is no impedance mismatch at the boundary. That means the wave experiences no reflection and all of its energy continues into the second medium. At normal incidence, the absence of reflection implies the transmitted power equals the incident power, so the transmitted intensity relative to the incident intensity is 1. In other words, the wave is fully transmitted with the same energy flux; there’s no gain or loss in an ideal, lossless boundary.

When the two media have identical impedances, there is no impedance mismatch at the boundary. That means the wave experiences no reflection and all of its energy continues into the second medium. At normal incidence, the absence of reflection implies the transmitted power equals the incident power, so the transmitted intensity relative to the incident intensity is 1. In other words, the wave is fully transmitted with the same energy flux; there’s no gain or loss in an ideal, lossless boundary.