Waves 3

Stationary Waves
You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

You SHOULD explain the concepts of superposition.
You COULD Explain what is meant by a standing (stationary) wave, investigate how such a wave is
formed, and identify nodes and antinodes
Superposition
Starter: I can see you and you can
see me. That means light waves
are travelling between us, through
each other. Do they ever get
tangled up?
Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary
Stationary Waves

When two waves meet, the total

displacement at that point is equal to
the sum of the individual
displacements at that point.
Crest + crest = supercrest
Trough + trough = supertrough
Crest + trough = zero displacement
Stationary Waves

Superposition of waves
This is the process that

occurs when two waves of
the same type meet.
The principle of
superposition
When two waves meet,
the total displacement at a
point is equal to the sum
of the individual
displacements at that
point
reinforcement
cancellation
Stationary Waves

When
wavesnodes
are and
generated
continuously
formed,
and identify
antinodes
they can form stable patterns
1. Water waves in a ripple tank:
Fendt: circular waves interfering

Vplab: ripple tank
Stationary Waves

2. Stationary waves on a rope :

When waves are generated
continuously they can form
stable patterns
Stationary Waves

Vplab: stationary
waves
Vplab: waves on a
string
Stationary Waves

Pipes can be either

open or closed at their
ends
Open ends always
have an antinode
Closed ends always
have a node
Stationary Waves

Stationary waves
A stationary wave can be formed by the

superposition of two progressive waves
of the same frequency travelling in
opposite directions.
This is usually achieved by superposing
a reflected wave with its incident wave.
Stationary Waves

Formation of a stationary wave

Consider two waves, A and B, each of amplitude a,
frequency f and period T travelling in opposite
directions.
RESULTANT WAVEFORM
REINFORCEMENT
(1) At time, t = 0
Wave A
N A N A N A N A N A N A N
Wave B
Amplitude = 2a
Stationary Waves

(2) One quarter of a cycle later, at time, t = T/4

both waves have moved by a quarter of a
wavelength in opposite directions.
Wave A
RESULTANT WAVEFORM
CANCELLATION
N A N A N A N A N A N A
Amplitude = 0
Wave B
Stationary Waves

(3) After another quarter of a cycle, at time,

t = T/2 both waves have now moved by a
half of a wavelength in opposite directions.
RESULTANT WAVEFORM
REINFORCEMENT
Wave A
N A N A N A N A N A N A N
Wave B
Amplitude = 2a
Stationary Waves

(4) One quarter of a

cycle later, at time,
t = 3T/4 both waves will
undergo cancellation
again.
(5) One quarter of a

cycle later, at time, t = T
the two waves will
undergo superposition
in the same way as at
time, t = 0
(6) Placing all four

resultant waveforms on top
of each other gives:
N A N A N A N A N A N
Stationary Waves

NODES are points within a stationary wave that

have the MINIMUM (usually zero) amplitude.
These have been marked by an N in the
previous waveforms.
ANTINODES are points within a stationary
wave that have the MAXIMUM amplitude.
These have been marked by an A in the
previous waveforms and have an amplitude
equal to 2a
Stationary Waves

Property
Stationary Wave
Progressive Wave
Energy &
Momentum
No net transfer from one point to

another
Both move with speed:
c=fx
Amplitude
Varies from zero at NODES to a

maximum at ANTINODES
Is the same for all particles within

a wave
Frequency
All particles oscillate at the same

frequency except those at nodes
All particles oscillate at the same

frequency
Wavelength
This is equal to TWICE the distance

between adjacent nodes
This is equal to the distance

between particles at the same
phase
Phase
difference
between two
particles
Between nodes all particles are at the

same phase. Any other two particles
have phase difference equal to m
where m is the number of nodes
between the particles
Any two particles have phase

difference equal to 2d /
where d is the distance
between the two particles
Stationary Waves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gr7KmTOrx0
Stationary Waves

Examination question
The diagram below shows a microphone being used to
detect the nodes of the stationary sound wave formed
between the loudspeaker and reflecting surface. The
sound wave has a frequency of 2.2 kHz.
microphone
reflecting
surface
loudspeaker
to
oscilloscope
Stationary Waves

(a) Explain how a stationary is formed between the

loudspeaker and reflecting surface.
[3]
(b) When the microphone is moved left to right by 45 cm it
covers six inter-nodal distances. Calculate the wavelength
and speed of the progressive sound waves being used to
form the stationary wave. [4]
(c) The nodes nearest to the reflecting surface have nearer
zero amplitude compared with those nearer the loudspeaker.
Why?
[3]
microphone
reflecting
surface
loudspeaker
to
oscilloscope
Stationary Waves

(a)
The reflected sound wave undergoes superposition
with the incident sound wave produced by the
loudspeaker. [1 mark]
Nodes are formed when the peak of one wave
superposes with the trough of the other,
cancellation occurs.
[1 mark]
Antinodes are formed when the peak of one wave
superposes with the peak of the other,
reinforcement occurs.
[1 mark]
Stationary Waves

(b)
Wavelength equals twice the distance between
nodes.
Internodal distance = 45 cm / 6 = 7.5 cm
Therefore sound wavelength = 15 cm [2 marks]
c=fx
= 2.2 kHz x 15 cm
= 2 200 Hz x 0.15 m
speed of sound waves = 330 ms-1 [2 marks]

Stationary Waves

(c)
The amplitude of a sound wave decreases
with distance due to its energy spreading out.
[1 mark]
The size of a peak just before reflection and
that of a trough just after reflection will be
similar and so almost perfect cancellation will
occur and the consequent node produced will
have a near zero amplitude.
[1 mark]
The size of a peak just after production by the
loudspeaker will, however, be much larger
than that of a trough after reflection and travel
back to the speaker. Therefore incomplete
cancellation will occur and the consequent
node produced will still have a significant
amplitude. [1 mark]
Stationary Waves

Stationary waves on strings

Fundamental mode, fo
This is the lowest frequency that can produce a
stationary wave.
The length of the loop, L is equal to half of a wavelength.
and so: = 2L
also: fo = c / = c / 2L
node
antinode
node
L= length of a loop
Stationary Waves

First Overtone, 2fo

This is the second lowest frequency that can produce a
stationary wave.
The length of two loops, L is equal to one wavelength.
and so: = L
also: 2 fo = c / L
N
L = length of two loops =
Stationary Waves

Second Overtone, 3fo

The length of three loops, L is equal to one and one half
wavelengths.
and so: = L
also: 3 fo = 3c / 2L
N
L = length of three loops = 3/2
Stationary Waves

Question
A string of length 60 cm has fundamental frequency of 20
Hz. Calculate:
(a) the wavelength of the fundamental mode
(b) the speed of the progressive waves making up the
stationary wave
(c) the number of loops formed if with the same string the
length of the string was increased to 1.2m and the
frequency to 30Hz
(a) In the fundamental mode there is one loop of length
equal to .
Therefore wavelength = 2 x 60 cm
= 1.2 m
Stationary Waves

(b) c = f x
= 20 Hz x 1.2 m
Speed of the progressive waves = 24 ms-1
(c) If the frequency is increased to 30Hz the wavelength
will now be given by:
=c/f
= 24 / 30
= 0.8 m
but each loop length =
= 0.4 m
there will therefore be: 1.2 / 0.4 loops
Number of loops = 3
Stationary Waves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqynSAFjof0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBZmyGWqNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRNz8nC4T
UU

Waves 3

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Stationary Waves

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

When two waves meet, the total

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

This is the process that

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

they can form stable patterns

1. Water waves in a ripple tank:

Fendt: circular waves interfering

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

2. Stationary waves on a rope :

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Pipes can be either

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

A stationary wave can be formed by the

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Formation of a stationary wave

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

(2) One quarter of a cycle later, at time, t = T/4

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

(3) After another quarter of a cycle, at time,

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

(4) One quarter of a

(5) One quarter of a

(6) Placing all four

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

NODES are points within a stationary wave that

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

No net transfer from one point to

Both move with speed:

Varies from zero at NODES to a

Is the same for all particles within

All particles oscillate at the same

All particles oscillate at the same

This is equal to TWICE the distance

This is equal to the distance

Between nodes all particles are at the

Any two particles have phase

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

(a) Explain how a stationary is formed between the

Keywords Node, Anti-Node, Superposition, Coherence, Phase, Stationary

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.

speed of sound waves = 330 ms-1 [2 marks]

You MUST use graphs to represent standing waves.