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Classical Physics
Potential energy in standing wave compared to traveling wave
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[QUOTE="versine, post: 6522512, member: 692728"] [B]TL;DR Summary:[/B] Why is the potential energy of a standing wave maximum when the displacement is maximum, but for a traveling wave, it is when the displacement is zero? From [URL='http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Waves/powstr.html#c2']hyperphysics[/URL], "The unique point in the case of the traveling wave in the string is the element of the string that is at the maximum displacement as the wave passes. That element has a zero instantaneous velocity perpendicular to the straight string configuration, and as the wave goes "over the hump", it also has minimum tension. So that element of the string has the minimum energy compared to other elements along the sinusoidal contour. This does not imply that a wavelength of the sinusoidally contoured string has less potential energy than the straight string. The sinusoidally contoured string is longer than a wavelength of straight string and will have greater elastic potential energy. As that sinusoidal contour moves along the string, it transports energy. " Doesn't this also apply to a standing wave since it is a superposition of two traveling waves? [/QUOTE]
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Potential energy in standing wave compared to traveling wave
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