Explain how a stationary wave is produced when a string fixed at both ends is plucked

When the string is plucked, waves will travel from the point where it was plucked to the fixed ends, which cannot move and so must be nodes. The waves will reflect, and the superposition of the reflected and original waves will cause some positions to always have zero displacement (nodes) and some positions to oscillate at maximum amplitude (antinodes).

JT
Answered by James T. Physics tutor

15827 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A satellite is in a stationary orbit above a planet of mass 8.9 x 10^25 kg and period of rotation 1.2 x 10^5 s. Calculate the radius of the satellite's orbit from the centre of the planet.


A ball of mass 0.7 kg strikes the wall at an angle of 90 degrees with speed 72 km/h. Consider that the bounce lasts for 0.1 s and is perfectly elastic. What is the magnitude of the average reaction force from the wall that acts on the ball?


What are the similarities and differences between an elastic and an inelastic collision?


What are the postulates of special relativity?


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning