Stationary Wave

 Stationary Wave

Stationary Wave

Introduction :In previous topic we have seen that when two or more wave meet at the same point, superposition of waves take place and this superposition leads to formation of  a standing wave or beats under certain conditions. We are going to study standing wave in details in this topic.

Stationary Wave: When two identical progressive waves both travelling along the same path in opposite directions, interefere with each other, by superposition of waves resultant waves obtained in the form of loops ,is called a stationary waves.

Formation of stationary wave (Graphical Method)

Superposition of wave(stationary wave)

.Formation of stationary wave (Analytical Method)

From diagram above, consider two simple harmonic progressive wave with same amplitude and same frequency .

Y₁ = A₁ sin 2π (nt - x/λ)

Y₂ = A₂ sin 2π (nt + x/λ)

 The resultant displacement due to this two waves is given by,

Y = Y₁ + Y₂ 

_{│<<<Superposition of a wave│   │Nodes and Antinodes>>>│}