Identify the locations that remain always fixed (these are known as nodes) and the locations that oscillate most strongly (these are known as anti-nodes). Verify that the principle of superposition is accurate at these points.
With the wave reflecting from a free end, click on Start, wait until the wave returns to its point of origin, and observe the new standing wave. What is different about it?
When two traveling waves with the same frequency and amplitude move past each other in opposite directions, they create what is known as a standing wave, such as the example shown below.
The term standing wave is used because, rather than traveling from side to side, the wave appears to stand in place, with some locations remaining always fixed (these are known as nodes) and other locations oscillating strongly (these are known as anti-nodes).
Animations courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Grad. Prog. Acoustics, Penn State. licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. For more information see https://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/demos.html
