Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams 1 - Both Ends Fixed
Standing waves are shown on a printed page as a static, or still, diagram. Of course, like all waves, they are dynamic. This Java applet is here to help you understand how a static standing wave diagram is meant to convey the true motions of the standing wave.
To understand how to use this applet do the following:
- Check the '1st' harmonic radio button.
- Check the 'Wave' checkbox, uncheck the 'Envelope' checkbox. You will see a moving yellow string. What you are looking at is the true motion of a string fixed at both ends and vibrating in its fundamental mode, or its first harmonic. Of course, static diagrams could not show this motion. Take note of the extreme extents of the string's motion.
- Now uncheck the 'Wave' checkbox and check the 'Envelope' checkbox. What you are looking at now is a shape that outlines the extreme extent of the string's motion. This outline is called the envelope of the vibration. Static diagrams of standing waves usually only show this envelope.
- Now check both the 'Wave' and the 'Envelope' checkbox. You will be able to see both the wave motion and the static envelope diagram.
- Try all of this with the other harmonics.
Again, a static diagram representing a standing wave will usually only show the envelope of the vibration.
Below are several static diagrams of standing waves for a medium fixed at both ends, along with the names for each vibration and a count of the antinodes and nodes for each vibration.
If you are unclear about the meaning of the terms 'antinode' and 'node', be sure to look back at Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams. Most likely you got here from that page. Page through the Flash animation which you will find there. The meaning of the terms 'antinode' and 'node' is presented in that animation and also in the discussion on that page.
|
Picture of Standing Wave |
Name |
Structure |
|
|
1st Harmonic or Fundamental |
1 Antinode 2 Nodes |
|
|
2nd Harmonic or 1st Overtone |
2 Antinodes 3 Nodes |
|
|
3rd Harmonic or 2nd Overtone |
3 Antinodes 4 Nodes |
|
|
4th Harmonic or 3rd Overtone |
4 Antinodes 5 Nodes |
|
|
5th Harmonic or 4th Overtone |
5 Antinodes 6 Nodes |
Notice that this harmonic structure is the same as that for the medium open at both ends, but different from that for the medium fixed at one end and open at the other end. This harmonic structure, like the one for both ends open, proceeds from the 1st to the 2nd to the 3rd harmonic, and so on. The harmonic structure for the fixed at one end and open at the other end medium proceeds from the 1st to the 3rd to the 5th harmonic, and so on.
However, in every case, (fixed at both ends, open at both ends, fixed at one end and open at the other end), the first possible standing wave is called the fundamental, the second possible standing wave is called the 1st overtone, the third possible standing wave is called the 2nd overtone, and so on.