If the impedances of medium 1 and medium 2 are equal, what happens to the intensity of sound at the interface?

When the impedances of two media are equal, it means that there is no mismatch at the interface between the two materials. Acoustic impedance is a property that reflects how much resistance a given medium presents to the passage of sound waves. When sound waves encounter an interface with matching impedances, there is minimal reflection and maximal transmission of the sound energy.

In this scenario, since the impedances are the same, the entirety of the sound wave’s intensity is transmitted into the second medium without any loss. Consequently, it can be concluded that 100% of the intensity of the sound wave is transmitted across the interface when the impedances are equal. This concept is crucial in ultrasound physics, as it highlights the importance of impedance matching in optimizing sound transmission during imaging procedures.