Stati onary Waves

All pupils will be able to:

• Define superposition of waves
•Define nodes and antinodes

Most pupils will be able to:

• Explain how standing waves are formed
• Draw standing waves

Some pupils will be able to:

• Define harmonics for standing waves
• Calculate the speed of stationary waves
 Key words
•Superposition •Fundamental frequency

•Nodes •Harmonic

•Antinodes •Displacement

•Standing wave •Interference

•Constructive interference •Destructive interference

 Starter
Think of a number line If you were to add two numbers together you would
that is vertical that either make the number larger or smaller. For example
would represent 2 + 4 = 6 or 3 + (-) 2 = 1. The same thing happens with
displacement of the waves. This means the wave should in theory get
particles. higher or lower depending on the situation.

For the two examples below try to draw what an

overall wave might look like if they were added
together in your books.
5
4
3 a)
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
b)
-5
Starter answers

Some more difficult

examples have been
done for you to the
left and right of this
box.
 Some key terms explained
Try to define the following term

Super position -

You have 30 seconds

 Some key terms explained
Super position - Waves can be added together by adding their
amplitudes at all points. This is called superposition.
 Some key terms explained

Try to define the following term

Stationary Waves -

You have 30 seconds

 Some key terms explained

Stationary Waves - When you have

•two waves of the same frequency
•travelling in opposite directions
 Some key terms explained
Try to define the following term

Standing waves -

You have 30 seconds

 Some key terms explained
Standing waves - do not transfer energy, but just oscillate up and down
in one place.
 Some key terms explained
Try to define the following term

Node -

You have 30 seconds

 Some key terms explained
Try to define the following term

Node - where there is no displacement

 Some key terms explained
Try to define the following term

Antinode -

You have 30 seconds

 Some key terms explained
Antinode - where there is maximum displacement
 Stationary waves
Mark the nodes and antinodes on the stationary wave drawn below in
your books.

Where do you think you will be able to find standing waves?

(hint . . . . . )

Standing waves can be found on strings (guitars, violins, pianos ...) or in

pipes (flutes, clarinets, pipe organs ...). The standing waves we will look
at are on strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no7ZPPqtZEg See standing wave video

 Standing waves
To get a standing wave there are a few requirements,

•Reflection

•Constructive interference with the incidence wave

•The waves change phase upon reflection from a fixed end

http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=no7ZPPqtZEg

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=3BN5-JSsu_4
How a standing wave
is created
How a standing wave
is created?
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
 Comparing standing and
progressive waves
Standing Waves Progressive Waves
Amplitude Maximum at antinode and The same for all parts of the
zero at nodes wave
Frequency All parts of the wave have All parts of the wave have
the same frequency the same frequency
Wavelength Twice the distance between The distance between two
adjacent nodes adjacent peaks
Phase All points between two Points one wavelength apart
adjacent nodes in phase in phase
Energy No energy translation Energy translation in the
direction of the wave
Waveform Does not move forward Moves forwards
How a standing wave
is created?
Possible standing wave
examples
 Fundamental frequency and harmonics
Fundamental
frequency

Second
harmonic

Third
harmonic

Fourth
harmonic

Can you notice a pattern here and if you can do you think you could
come up with a general formula for an ‘nth’ term?
 Fundamental frequency and harmonics
In general the ‘nth’ term is given by .

The frequency of a standing wave is given by the time it takes for the
particles to oscillate one cycle which is the same as the driving
frequency for the oscillation.

The period of a stationary wave is given by .

This is the time taken for one cycle.

Can you draw what a wave would look like for the 9th harmonic, 13th
harmonic and 18th harmonic in your books?

Then set the person next to you 3 harmonic tasks and see who can
complete it neatly the fastest and for it to be correct.
 Wave speed and phases
The “speed” of a standing wave is given by , although this
reflects the speed of the travelling waves which interfere to make the
standing wave as the standing wave doesn’t actually move itself.
Phases - For a progressive wave
•For
adjacent points are wave
a progressive out of (moving
phase. wave),
•as you move along the wave they move more out
when and where do you think it will be in
of phase.
phase/
•until youout
getof
to phase. Try to describe
half a wavelength at whichitpoint
in a
few
they bullet
start topoints.
move back into phase.
•until you get to one wavelength.
Phases - For a Standing wave
•all the
For points between
a standing two adjacent
wave (moving nodes
wave), are
when
in phase.
and where do you think it will be in phase/
•a point is exactly out of phase (180°) with all
out of between
points phase. Try to describe
the adjacent it in
pair of a few
nodes (the
bullet points.
next half wave along in either direction).
 Wave speed and phases
The “speed” of a standing wave is given by , although this
reflects the speed of the travelling waves which interfere to make the
standing wave as the standing wave doesn’t actually move itself.
Phases - For a progressive wave
•adjacent points are out of phase.
•as you move along the wave they move more out
of phase.
•until you get to half a wavelength at which point
they start to move back into phase.
•until you get to one wavelength.
Phases - For a Standing wave
•all the points between two adjacent nodes are
in phase.
•a point is exactly out of phase (180°) with all
points between the adjacent pair of nodes (the
next half wave along in either direction).
Practice questions
Practice questions
Practice questions
Practice questions
 Practice questions

Copy wave picture above as questions will start on the next page.
Practice questions
Practice questions answers
Practice questions answers
Practice questions answers
Practice questions answers
 Plenary challenge

Think of an instrument that would allow a

standing wave to be produced and explain how
it would create the standing wave including the
conditions necessary for it to occur.