What is Standing wave: Definition and 201 Discussions

In physics, a standing wave, also known as a stationary wave, is a wave which oscillates in time but whose peak amplitude profile does not move in space. The peak amplitude of the wave oscillations at any point in space is constant with time, and the oscillations at different points throughout the wave are in phase. The locations at which the absolute value of the amplitude is minimum are called nodes, and the locations where the absolute value of the amplitude is maximum are called antinodes.
Standing waves were first noticed by Michael Faraday in 1831. Faraday observed standing waves on the surface of a liquid in a vibrating container. Franz Melde coined the term "standing wave" (German: stehende Welle or Stehwelle) around 1860 and demonstrated the phenomenon in his classic experiment with vibrating strings.This phenomenon can occur because the medium is moving in the opposite direction to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary medium as a result of interference between two waves traveling in opposite directions. The most common cause of standing waves is the phenomenon of resonance, in which standing waves occur inside a resonator due to interference between waves reflected back and forth at the resonator's resonant frequency.
For waves of equal amplitude traveling in opposing directions, there is on average no net propagation of energy.

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  1. T

    Calculating the length of a string from a standing wave

    Homework Statement A horizontally oriented string with mass per unit length ##\mu=0.1kgm^{-1}## is under tension T=1.0N. The left end of the string moves up and down in a simple harmonic motion with an amplitude A=0.10m and frequency f=3.0Hz. This sets up a sinusoidal wave along the string with...
  2. G

    B Phase difference in standing wave

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  3. Garlic

    Relativistic standing wave electrons?

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  4. Mr Davis 97

    Where Does the Energy in a Standing Wave Go?

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  5. bcrowell

    Salamander locomotion as a standing wave

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  6. ft92

    Longest Wavelength of Standing Wave on Clamped Metal Rod

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  7. J

    Does a standing wave have zero momentum?

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  8. S

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  9. V

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  10. kostoglotov

    Why is the open end of a tube a node for a standing wave?

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  11. F

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  12. kelvin490

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  13. Kyle Burris

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  14. H

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  15. F

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  16. I

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  17. O

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  18. P

    General solution for a standing wave to the wave equation.

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  19. Kevin Spacey

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  20. itchybrain

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  21. Bassa

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  22. E

    Standing Waves: Exploring Asin(kx)sin(wt) and Interfering Waves

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  23. B

    Why does infinite potential well give rise to standing wave?

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  24. O

    Standing Waves and Resonance in Fixed-End Transverse String Vibration

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  25. O

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  26. T

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  27. J

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  29. J

    Walking sinusoidal as you follow a RF Standing Wave?

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  30. N

    Understanding the definition of standing wave

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  31. S

    Are the wavelength of standing wave and sound wave produced same?

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  32. S

    Can Standing Waves be Used to Trap Electrons in a Vacuum Sphere?

    Is it possible to confine electrons for example into a region using standing waves ? Like having a vacuum sphere and using some 180 degrees out of phase overlayed waves to capture a cloud of electrons in the middle has anything like it been done before and can you please tell me more about it as...
  33. F

    Determining Steel String Diameter for Standing Wave Node

    Homework Statement The figure below shows a snapshot of a standing wave on a composite string. It is a node in the composite point. If the aluminium string has a diameter of 1.50 mm, which diameter does the steel string have ...
  34. Y

    Understanding Standing Wave Loops: Solving a 60 Hz Frequency Question

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  35. J

    Vector Sum of a Standing Wave Confusion

    Hi, I was taught that a standing wave is formed when a progressive wave meets a boundary and is reflected. I was also taught that waves that meet a fixed end, reflect on the opposite side of the axis to the side that they met it at. (I hope that makes sense) If this is true, when the wave is...
  36. S

    How can you relate standing wave to a corpuscle at rest?

    I was going through De Broglie's acceptence speech and I found he said a particle at rest can be associated with a stationary wave. Now what We know wavelength= h/p(momentum). So for a particle at rest we get wavelength = h/0. This is undefined. So does not it state that a particle at rest is...
  37. B

    Understanding Standing Waves in Hydrogen with Animation and Quantum Mechanics

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  38. ThomasMagnus

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  39. V

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  40. R

    Method to produce and measure velocity of a standing wave

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  41. I

    How Does Current Frequency Affect Wire Oscillation in a Magnetic Field?

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  42. andyrk

    What is the velocity dependence in the equation of a standing wave?

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  43. A

    Is max sound intensity at the displacement node in a standing wave?

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  44. O

    What is the x>0 mean here? standing wave equation find nodes?

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  45. J

    Finding the velocity of a standing wave

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  46. E

    Wave equation for a standing wave - clarification needed

    Both of the highlighted equations deal with a standing wave. However, they are slightly different in the sense that the latter has a phase shift in it. Why ? Also, how does one go from the latter equation for a standing wave to : 2A*sinkx*sinwt. For a string with both ends fixed And...
  47. S

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  48. B

    Is this a standing wave? What is it?

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  49. S

    What is the Length of an Aluminum Rod Creating a Standing Wave at 6180 Hz?

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  50. 0

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    Hi I am doing coursework relating to resonance in a wine glass, and i am so confused as to where the standing waves are formed, clearly in videos i have watched the wineglass, when exposed to a high amplitude of its resonant frequency (in slow motion) clearly shows the wine glass vibrating...
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