Why does a stationary wave form at a free end of a water tank?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the formation of stationary waves at the free end of a water tank. When waves generated by an oscillator travel to the tank's end, they reflect and superpose, creating a stationary wave with an antinode at the free end. This phenomenon contrasts with closed pipes, where nodes form due to fixed ends. The key distinction lies in the nature of the waves: water waves are transverse, allowing vertical movement at the tank's edge, while sound waves are longitudinal, resulting in constrained movement at closed ends.

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songoku
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This is the set up to produce stationary wave. The oscillator on the left will produce wave on water surface then this wave will travel to right, reflected at the tank and the incoming and reflected wave will superpose to form stationary wave.

My teacher said when the water wave hits the tank at the right side, antinode of stationary wave will be formed because it is a free end. I don't understand why it is a free end, I thought it as a fixed end since the tank is a rigid container. My analogy is at the closed end of a closed pipe, node is always formed, not antinode so why at the tank an antinode is formed?

Thanks
 
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songoku said:
My analogy is at the closed end of a closed pipe, node is always formed, not antinode so why at the tank an antinode is formed?
This is the difference between a transverse wave and longitudinal one.

Water waves are transverse; the water level moves up and down while the wave propagates sideways and at the edge of the tank the water is free to move up and down.

Sound waves are longitudinal; the air moves back and forth and at the end of the closed pipe is constrained not to be able to move.
 
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Thank you very much Nugatory
 

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