Question

State the characteristics of stationary waves.

Answer 1

Characteristics of stationary waves :

• Stationary waves are produced due to superposition of two identical waves (either transverse or longitudinal waves) traveling through a medium along the same path in opposite directions
• The overall appearance of a standing wave is of alternate intensity maximum (displacement antinode) and minimum (displacement node).
• The distance between adjacent nodes (or antinodes) is λ/2.
• The distance between successive node and antinode is λ/ 4.
• There is no progressive change of phase from particle to particle. All the particles in one loop, between two adjacent nodes, vibrate in the same phase, while the particles in adjacent loops are in opposite phase.
• A stationary wave does not propagate in any direction and hence does not transport energy through the medium.
• In a region where a stationary wave is formed, the particles of the medium (except at the nodes) perform SHM of the same period, but the amplitudes of the vibrations vary periodically in space from particle to particle.