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Stationary Waves on a Rope

Progressive waves transfer energy from one place to another.Stationary Waves are formed when two progressive waves pass through each other.Stationary waves that vibrate freely do not transfer energy to the surroundings.
Two progressive waves continuously passing through each other at a constant phase difference undergo interference.Cancellation and reinforcement occur at fixed positions.There is maximum displacement at antinodes and no displacement at nodes.Coherent waves vibrate at the same frequency with a constant phase difference.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.3.1.3 Principle of superposition of waves and formation of stationary waves. Topic: Waves.

Key terms in this lesson

Phase difference
The difference, measured in radians or degrees, between the phases of two oscillating points or waves.
Coherent
Waves are coherent if they have the same frequency and a constant phase difference.
Diffraction
The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an obstacle.
Interference
The formation of points of cancellation and reinforcement where two coherent waves overlap and superpose.
Refraction
The change of direction of a wave as it crosses a boundary between two media in which it travels at different speeds.

More in Waves

All 24 lessons in Waves · All AQA AS-level Physics topics