Stationary Wave / Standing

Wave

When two progressive waves of same amplitude

and frequency travel through a medium with
same speed but in opposite direction, they
superpose with each other producing a
stationary wave.

Eg. Transverse stationary wave in vibrating

guitar string.
Longitudinal stationary wave in a whistle
when blown.
Equation of Stationary wave:
Differences between progressive wave &
stationary wave.
Progressive Wave Stationary Wave
1. Disturbance travels 1. Disturbance doesn’t
forward in a medium and is move forward at all. So
handed from one particle there is no net transfer of
to the next after some energy & momentum
time. So there is net across any section of
transfer of energy & medium.
momentum across any
section of medium.
2. Amplitude is same for all 2. Amplitude varies from
particles. zero at node to maximum
at antinode.
3. No particle is 3. Particles at nodes are
permanently at rest. always at rest
4. Regular phase difference 4. All the particles in
exists between successive between two nodes are in
particles. phase & differ by a phase
difference of ∏ between
particles from next
segment.
5. Value of maximum 5. Value of maximum
velocity for all particles is velocity is different for
the same. different particles.