Standing Waves on a String
Run the Standing Waves MicroSim Fullscreen
About This MicroSim
This simulation demonstrates standing waves - wave patterns that appear to vibrate in place rather than traveling. Standing waves form when two waves of the same frequency travel in opposite directions and interfere.
Key Concepts
- Nodes (N): Points that remain stationary (zero displacement)
- Antinodes (A): Points with maximum oscillation amplitude
- Harmonics: The sequence of standing wave patterns (n = 1, 2, 3, ...)
- Wavelength: λn = 2L/n where L is string length
- Frequency: fn = n × f₁ (integer multiples of fundamental)
Controls
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| n = 1 to 6 | Select harmonic number |
| Amplitude | Maximum displacement |
| Speed | Animation speed |
| Play/Pause | Control animation |
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify nodes and antinodes in standing wave patterns
- Explain the relationship between harmonic number and wavelength
- Calculate the number of nodes and antinodes for any harmonic
- Understand why only certain frequencies produce standing waves