What happens to signals that encounter a point of high impedance?

When signals encounter a point of high impedance, some part of the signals gets reflected back rather than being transmitted through. High impedance is characterized by a high resistance to current flow, which can disrupt the normal transmission of signals. When a signal reaches a point where the impedance is significantly different from that of the transmission line—especially if the line is designed for a specific impedance—some of the signal energy does not pass through. Instead, it encounters a barrier due to the high impedance and is partially reflected back toward the source.

This phenomenon is governed by the principles of wave behavior and transmission lines, where impedance mismatches can lead to signal integrity issues, such as reflected waves that can cause interference or loss of data. Understanding this concept is crucial in telecommunications and network troubleshooting, as identifying points of high impedance can aid in diagnosing system performance and signal degradation issues.