What Causes Standing Waves and Beat Frequencies in Sound?

AI Thread Summary
Standing waves occur when two identical waves move in opposite directions, creating a pattern of nodes and antinodes. The beat frequency is determined by the difference in frequencies of two waves, calculated as fbeat = |f2 - f1|. In the example given, sound waves of 250.0 Hz and 250.1 Hz produce a beat frequency of 0.1 Hz, indicating that an observer would need to wait at least 10 seconds to detect the beat. Commonly, standing waves are generated through interference of waves in confined spaces, such as strings or air columns. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping the behavior of sound waves and their interactions.
penza
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Which one of the following situations could result in a standing wave?
A- Two waves with different frequencies moving in the same direction.
B- Two waves with different frequencies moving in opposite direction.
C- Two identical waves moving in opposite directions
D- Two identical waves moving in the same direction.

Two sound waves of frequencies 250.0 Hz and 250.1 Hz are generated. To determine the beat frequency an observer must wait at least
A- 0.004S
B-0.1S
C- 1S
D-10S
 
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-1- What is the most common way that standing waves are generated?

-2- What is the frequency of the beat? What does that tell you about how long it takes you to detect that beat frequency?
 
berkeman said:
-1- What is the most common way that standing waves are generated?

-2- What is the frequency of the beat? What does that tell you about how long it takes you to detect that beat frequency?
the most common way i don't know...and the frequency of beat is 1/F
 
(1) What is a stading wave? How would you define it?

(2) No the beat frequency is given by the difference in frequency of the two waves thus; fbeat = |f2 - f1| . This can be derived from the wave equations of the two interfering waves. Do you know what causes the beating? If not I suggest you look at http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/beat.html"

Edit: Sorry berkeman if I stepped on your toes, but you were 'offline'
 
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