STATIONARY WAVES

Stationary Waves: When two identical progressive wave travel in a bounded medium with same
velocity but in opposite direction, then they superpose to give rise a pattern that appears to be
stationary or still. This wave pattern is known as stationary waves.

Characteristics of stationary waves:

1) They do not move in a medium but remains stationary.

2) It wont transfer energy across the medium in which it travels.
3) In the stationary wave pattern, the points which are always at rest are known as nodes
& the points that always have maximum displacement are known as antinodes.
4) The distance between two consecutive node or antinode is equal to / 2 .
5) Apart from the nodes, all the points in the medium vibrate with the same
phase.
But points of the medium in adjacent segments vibrate out of phase.
6) Amplitude of vibration varies from zero(at node) to maximum(at antinode).
7) All the points of the medium pass through their mean positions simultaneously twice in
each period.

Differences between progressive & stationary waves.

Progressive waves
Stationary waves
1) It propagates in a medium with
definite Speed.
2) It transports energy.
3) All the particles in the medium
Will vibrate.
4) No particle is permanently at rest.

1) It remains stationary within the

boundary of the medium.
2) It wont transport energy.
3) Except nodes all other particles will
vibrate.
4) Particles at nodes will be at rest
always.
5) All particles pass through their mean
position twice in one period.

5) The particles of the medium pass

through their mean position
simultaneously.
6) Phase of vibration varies continuously
6) Phase of vibration in a segment
From one particle to another.
Remains constant.
Vibrations in air column: Longitudinal stationary waves can be set up in an organ pipe. Waves
produced at one end travel to the other open end of the air column & reflects at the other end so as
to form stationary waves. There are two type of organ pipe.
1) Open pipe: In which both the ends are open.
2) Closed pipe: In which one of the end is closed.

Vibrations of air column in a closed organ pipe:

Consider a closed organ pipe of
length L. Longitudinal waves produced at
the open end of the pipe travel towards the
other end & gets reflected & travel towards
the open end. The superposition of these
waves causes stationary waves.

1
4

L
18

3 2
4

5 3
4

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9886861096

Fundamental mode of vibration: Let the air column vibrate such that a node is formed at the closed
end & an antinode at the open end of the pipe. This is the simplest mode of vibration known as
fundamental mode.
Let 1 be the wavelength of the wave. Then L 1 / 4 1 4L
Let f1 be the frequency of vibration of air column, if V is the speed of the wave then wkt
V

f1

V/

V
4L

(1)

This note is known as fundamental note or first harmonic of the pipe. f1 is the fundamental
frequency.
Second mode of vibration: In this mode let two nodes & two antinodes are formed. Let 2 be the
wavelength of the wave. Then
L

2
2

4L
3

Let f 2 be the frequency of vibration of air column, then

f2

V/

3V
4L

V
4L

3f1

(2)

This note is known as first overtone or third harmonic of the pipe.

Third mode of vibration: In this mode let 3 nodes & 3 antinodes are formed. Let 3 be the
wavelength of the wave. Then
L

3
3

4L
5

Let f 3 be the frequency of vibration of air column, then

f3

V
3

5V
4L

V
4L

5f1

(3)

This note is known as second overtone or fifth harmonic of the pipe.

From equations (1), (2) & (3) it is clear that
f1 : f2 : f3

1: 3 : 5

Thus, a closed organ pipe always produces odd harmonics.

Vibrations of air column in an open organ pipe:

Consider a open
pipe of length L.
Longitudinal waves produced in the one end of the
pipe travels through the air column towards the
other end & get reflected so as to produce stationary
waves.
Fundamental mode of vibration: Let an air
column vibrate such that antinodes are formed in its
open ends & node at the middle. This is the simplest
mode of vibration known as fundamental mode. Let
19

1
2

2 2
2

3 3
2

M.N.Sharath kumar,
9886861096

1 be the wavelength of the wave then

L

/2

2L

Let f1 be the frequency of vibration of air column. Let V be the speed of the wave, then
V

f1

V/

V
2L

(1)

This mode is known as fundamental note or first harmonic & f1 is known as fundamental
frequency.
Second mode of vibration: In this mode let the wave consist of 2 nodes & 3 antinodes. If 2 is
the wavelength of the wave then
L

2
2

2L
2

Let f 2 be the frequency of vibration of the air column, then

V

f2

2V
2L

V
2L

2f1

(2)

This is called first overtone or second harmonic of the pipe.

Third mode of vibration: Let the air column vibrate in the third mode with 3 nodes & 4 antinodes.
Let 3 be the wavelength of the wave.
Then L

3
3

2L
3

Let f 3 be the frequency of vibration of air column. Then

f3

V
3

3V
2L

V
2L

3f1

(3)

This note is called second overtone or third harmonic of the pipe.

From equation (1), (2) & (3) it follows
f1 : f2 : f3

1: 2 : 3

Vibration of a stretched string: Consider a stretched string between two supports. When the
string is plucked in the middle transverse waves are produced. These waves will travel towards the
other end with a speed given by
V

T
m

(1)

Where T is the tension in the string & m is mass per unit length of the string.
These waves reflect back to produce stationary waves. Here nodes are formed at the ends of
the string & antinodes at the middle. If l is the length of the fixed end of the string then
L

/2

2L

If f is the frequency of vibration of the string then

f

V/

V / 2L

Substituting V from equation (1) we have

20

M.N.Sharath kumar,
9886861096

1 T
2L m

This is the frequency of note emitted by the string.

Modes of vibration in a stretched string:

Consider a stretched string of length l is plucked so
as to form nodes at its fixed ends and antinode in the middle.
This is the simplest mode of vibration known as fundamental
mode.
Let 1 be the wavelength then
L

2 2
2

2L

1
2

If f1 is the frequency of vibration of the string & V is the

speed of wave then
f1

V
1

T
m

But V

3 3
2

V
2L

f1

1 T
2L m

(1)

Where represents the fundamental frequency of the wave. Let us make the string to vibrate in 2
segments i.e with 2 nodes & 2 antinodes as shown. If 2 is the wavelength then
L

2
2

2L
2

Let the frequency of the string be f 2 then

f2

2V
2L

2
T/m
2L

2f1

(2)

Similarly if the string is made to vibrate in three segments & the wavelength 3 then
L

2L
3

Let the frequency of the string be f 3 then

3
T / m 3f1
(3)
2L
Thus from (1), (2) & (3) f1 : f2 : f3 1 : 2 : 3 . If the string has P segments then its frequency is
f3

V/

3V
2L

P / 2L T / m .

A stretched string gives both odd & even harmonics.

Laws of stretched strings:

1) Law of length: For a given wire of constant mass per unit length & tension, the frequency of the
wire varies inversely as its vibrating length.
i.e f

1
for constant T m
L

2) Law of Tension: For a uniform string of given length & material the frequency of the string
varies directly as the square root of its tension.
21

M.N.Sharath kumar,
9886861096

i .e f T for constant l & m.

3) Law of mass: For a uniform string of given length & constant tension, the frequency of string
varies inversely as square root of mass per unit length.
i.e f

1
for constant T & m.
m

Free oscillations: The vibrations of the body which are not affected by any external force is known
as free oscillation. This frequency is known as natural frequency.
Damped oscillation: The oscillation of the body whose amplitude decreases with increase in time
are known as damped oscillation.
Forced oscillations: The oscillation in which a body
oscillates under the influence of an external periodic
force are known as forced oscillations.
Resonance: When the frequency of external source is equal to the natural frequency of the
oscillator, then the amplitude of oscillations of the body becomes very large. This phenomenon is
known as resonance.

22

M.N.Sharath kumar,
9886861096