Does the initial impulse count as a return wave when sagging wire?

The initial impulse does not count as a return wave when sagging wire because the initial impulse refers to the first energy wave created when a disturbance occurs in the wire, such as when it is tensioned or impacted. This impulse travels along the wire but does not reflect back to create a return wave. Return waves specifically refer to energy that travels back towards the source after encountering a boundary or an impedance change, which is not applicable to the initial impulse since it does not reflect back under normal circumstances.

Looking at the context of wire sagging, when the wire is at rest and sags under its own weight or tension, the behavior of waves is primarily influenced by factors like tension, elasticity, and gravity. Only disturbances that result in a return due to reflection or other boundary interactions can create return waves. Therefore, under typical conditions of sagging wire, the initial impulse is just part of the transmission of energy along the wire and does not qualify as a return wave.