Chapter 16.

2: Superposition and
Standing Waves
PHY 108/202
Spring 2021
 Whistling Tube

What produces the sound in the tube?

What determines the frequency of the sound that we hear?

Reflection from a fixed end
 y CheckPoint
Case A v
x

y
Case B
x
y( x, t ) = ? v

Suppose a pulse in Case A described by the function y(x,t) = P(x-vt).

Which of the following functions described the pulse in Case B?

A) y(x,t) = P(x + vt)

B) y(x,t) = -P(x + vt)
C) y(x,t) = -P(x - vt)

Mechanics Lecture 24, Slide 5

What happens when two waves meet?
 Principle of Superposition
When two or more waves overlap, the net disturbance at any
point is the sum of the individual disturbances due to each
wave.
Producing a standing wave
Standing Wave Terminology
Working with a partner, use a long slinky to produce
standing wave patterns.

One person should hold one end fixed.

The other person must oscillate the other end appropriately.

Try to produce one antinode.

Next try to produce two antinodes. What do you have to do

to the frequency of oscillation?
Standing Waves with Fixed Endpoints
l1 = 2L

2L
l2 = =L
2

2L
l3 =
3
Conditions for standing wave: string
with fixed endpoints
2L
ln = , n = 1, 2, 3, …
n
The wave speed will remain constant, as long as
we do not change the medium.

v æ v ö
fn = = nç ÷
ln è 2L ø

f1 is called the fundamental frequency. The higher

frequencies are called harmonics. The entire set of allowed
frequencies is called the natural frequencies for the
system.
 CheckPoint
Suppose the strings on your guitar are 24” long as shown. The 24
frets are the places along the neck where you can put your
finger to make the wavelength shorter, and appear as 20
horizontal white lines on the picture. frets 16

When no frets are being pushed the frequency of the highest 12

string is 4 times higher than the frequency of the lowest
string. Is it possible to play the lowest string with your finger 8
on any of the frets shown and hear the same frequency as
4
the highest string?

A) Yes B) No

Mechanics Lecture 24, Slide 14

The frequency heard from the guitar string is associated
with the fundamental frequency. That frequency is given by
v
f1 =
2L
As long as we do not change the tension in the string the
speed will remain constant, so to generate a fundamental
frequency that is higher requires a shorter string.

To get a frequency that is higher by a factor of 4 will require a

string that is ¼ the original length. In this case, we need a
string of length 8 inches. There are no frets at that length on
the guitar.
 Sound Waves
Sound waves are longitudinal waves
of compressed regions of gas that
propagate in the gas.

Usually, we describe sound waves in

terms of the deviation of pressure
from normal.
Standing sound waves: tube open at
both ends
 The Whistling Tube
• The whistling tube has two open ends, so its natural frequencies are given by the
previous slide.
• Air moving over the corrugation produces a vortex of compressed air.
• The air is pushed through the tube by the twirling motion.
• The speed of air flow is proportional to the rotation frequency.
• As the speed of airflow increases, the frequency of compressed air vortices also
increases. The sound you hear will have the frequency of these compressed air
vortices.
• When the vortex frequency matches a natural frequency of the tube, production
of sound is particularly efficient, so you will hear that frequency best.
YouTube – Go Tell It On The Mountain
standing sound waves: tube closed at
one end