Understanding the definition of standing wave

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of standing waves, particularly focusing on the characteristics of nodes and the behavior of the resultant wave formed by the superposition of two waves traveling in opposite directions. Participants are exploring the implications of wave interference and the nature of oscillations in standing waves.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning why standing waves do not appear as a straight line despite the presence of nodes, and they are exploring the reasons behind the oscillatory motion of the wave. There are inquiries about the interpretation of diagrams depicting incident and reflected waves, as well as discussions on the nature of energy transfer in waves.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants providing insights into the nature of standing waves and the oscillatory behavior of particles. There is a mix of interpretations being explored, and while some clarifications have been offered, no consensus has been reached on the fundamental questions posed.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of wave behavior, including the definitions and characteristics of standing waves versus traveling waves. There is an emphasis on understanding the mechanics of wave interference and the role of energy transfer in the context of oscillations.

needingtoknow
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Homework Statement



For standing wave, I have read that there are certain points on the wave that don't move at all, nodes. However, for a standing wave the shouldn't the resultant wave have no displacement because we now have two waves on the same rope with the same amplitude and frequency and according to the interference of waves we should add the amplitude of each wave to get the resultant wave. Since each wave has the same amplitude but in the opposite direction, that means the entire wave should not be moving right? Thanks for your help.
 

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Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovunOxlY1k
 
I saw the part on standing waves but it still doesn't answer why isn't the wave simply a straight line. Why does it still bob up and down?
 
Am I seeing this diagram correctly. Is the solid line the incident wave and the dashed line the reflected wave?
 
needingtoknow said:
Am I seeing this diagram correctly. Is the solid line the incident wave and the dashed line the reflected wave?

I assume the diagram is the standing wave that results from the superposition of the forward and reflecting wave movements.
 
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Thanks for your time and effort nsaspook!
 
Perhaps needy's understanding is helped by contemplating the following:

Note that what's traveling in a wave is not the particles, air molecules, water molecules or what have you: these make small oscillations around some equilibrium position.

A standing wave isn't bobbing up and down. It's standing. What's bobbing up and down is the what have you's that are passing on some form of energy that brings them away from their equilibrium position.

A traveling wave is something of a misnomer: on the beach there isn't really a whole load of water coming at you. The water itself is making circular motions.
 

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