Stationary wave
A stationary wave is a wave which doesn’t actually transfer energy.
That’s because it’s made up of two waves in opposite directions! The waves have:
- the same frequency
- the same amplitude
- the same speed
- the same wavelength
They interfere with each other, which produces some key features, which we’ll look at in the next sections.
Stationary waves are waves made up of two of the same waves in opposite directions interfering to proudce nodes and antinodes. They don’t transfer energy.
flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a stationary wave? | A wave which does not actually transfer energy, made up of two identical waves travelling in opposite directions that interfere. |
| What four properties must the two constituent waves share to form a stationary wave? | They must have the same frequency, same amplitude, same speed, and same wavelength. |
| How is a stationary wave produced? | By two identical waves travelling in opposite directions interfering with each other. |
| What key features are produced by the interference in a stationary wave? | Nodes and antinodes. |
| Why does a stationary wave not transfer energy? | Because it is formed by two waves of the same frequency, amplitude, speed, and wavelength travelling in opposite directions, cancelling energy transfer. |