How can we explain the standing waves on a string?

When a wave reaches the end of a string, it is reflected and inverted, so in a fixed string in which we've caused vibrations, such as a guitar string, we have two sinusoidal waves travelling in opposite directions. In certain places, where the two waves are exactly out of phase, we observe destructive interference (crest meets trough, and the two waves cancel each other out) and the point remains static. These points are called nodes. Midway between them, we can observe the opposite: constructive interference (where the two waves coincide and produce an even bigger displacement); these points of greatest amplitude are called antinodes. The fixed ends of the string are always nodes, and the number of nodes and antinodes depends on how long the string is relative to the wavelength. For example, in a string which is one-half wavelength long, we have two nodes (at both ends of the string) and one antinode; if the string is one wavelength long, we have three nodes and two antinodes, and so on.

BA
Answered by Boris A. Physics tutor

2482 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Hydrogen has a single proton and a single electron. Find the electric potential at a distance of 0.50 * 10^(-10) (m) from the proton.


how do i convert from a sine angle to a cosine angle?


Atmospheric Pressure is about 1.0x10^5 Pa. What is the downward force of the air on a desktop of surface area 1m^2?


An unknown capacitor is charged to 6v, its maximum value, then discharged through a 1k ohm resistor. If the capacitor voltage is 3v, 0.3 seconds after starting to discharge, what is the capacitance of the unknown capacitor?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning