Chapter 14

Stationary waves
14.1 From moving to stationary
As mentioned for previous chapters that progressive waves start from a source and travel
outwards, transferring energy from one place to another.
Stationary waves, or standing waves, are produced by the superposition of two waves of the
same frequency and amplitude travelling in opposite directions. This is usually achieved by a
travelling wave and its reflection. The superposition produces a wave pattern where the
peaks and troughs do not move.

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Stretched strings

Vibrations caused by stationary waves on a stretched string produce sound. This is how
stringed instruments, such as guitars or violins, work. This can be demonstrated by a
length of string under tension fixed at one end and vibrations made by an oscillator:

As the frequency of the oscillator changes, standing waves with different numbers of minima
(nodes) and maxima (antinodes) form.

Microwaves

A microwave source is placed in line with a reflecting plate and a small detector between the
two. The reflector can be moved to and from the source to vary the stationary wave pattern
formed. By moving the detector, it can pick up the minima (nodes) and maxima (antinodes) of
the stationary wave pattern.

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Air Columns

The formation of stationary waves inside an air column can be produced by sound waves. This is
how musical instruments, such as clarinets and organs, work. This can be demonstrated by
placing a fine powder inside the air column and a loudspeaker at the open end. At certain
frequencies, the powder forms evenly spaced heaps along the tube, showing where there is zero
disturbance as a result of the nodes of the stationary wave.

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In order to produce a stationary wave, there must be a minima (node) at one end and a maxima
(antinode) at the end with the loudspeaker.

14.2 Nodes and antinodes

A stationary wave is made up of nodes and antinodes

Nodes are where there is no vibration.

Antinodes are where the vibrations are at their maximum amplitude.

The nodes and antinodes do not move along the string. Nodes are fixed and antinodes only move
in the vertical direction. Between nodes, all points on the stationary are in phase. The image
below shows the nodes and antinodes on a snapshot of a stationary wave at a point in time.

14.3 Determining the wavelength and speed of wave

The wavelength λ of any progressive wave can be determined from the separation between
neighbouring nodes or antinodes of the resulting stationary wave pattern.

separation between two adjacent nodes (or between two adjacent antinodes) = λ/2.

separation between adjacent node and antinode = λ/4.

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Making calculations
In string
As shown in the following figure the first 3 harmonics of string of length L.

We calculate the wavelength λ of wave by using the distances between nodes and antinodes.

As shown below the number of harmonic is n=1,2,3,4,…..and so on.

Where n= number of antinodes. It must be whole number.

The second harmonic frequency is twice the first harmonic (fundamental) frequency and the
third one is triple the first one and so on.

𝒇𝒏 = 𝒏𝒇𝟏

The wave length can be found by the following equation

𝟐𝑳
𝝀=
𝒏
L is length of string.

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In open end pipe

The same method of string we can calculate the wavelength of wave in open end pipe of length L
but here the number of harmonic n is equal to number of nodes.

𝒇𝒏 = 𝒏𝒇𝟏

𝟐𝑳
𝝀=
𝒏
In close end pipe
As shown below, a standing wave in close end pipe of length L. The number of harmonics is
only odd numbers.

where n=1,3,5,7 and so on. It must be whole number.

𝒇𝒏 = 𝒏𝒇𝟏

The wavelength λ can be calculated by using the following equation.

𝟒𝑳
𝝀=
𝒏
Where L is length of pipe.

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After calculating wavelength λ we can calculate frequency of speed of progressive wave by the
using the wave equation.

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