Physics 3.1.3 Superposition of Waves, Stationary Waves and Interference

13 flashcards · Physics · by TheoTyson

1. What is a stationary wave?

   The superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency and wavelength and moving in opposite directions.

2. What energy is transferred in a stationary wave?

   No energy is transferred in a stationary wave.

3. What is a node on a stationary wave?

   A point of zero amplitude on the wave.

4. What is an antinode on a stationary wave?

   A point of maximum aptitude on the wave.

5. What does the first harmonic look like?

6. What does the second harmonic look like?

7. What does the third harmonic look like?

8. How can stationary microwaves be formed and detected?

   Reflect a microwave on a metal plate and detect the nodes and antinodes using a microwave probe.

9. How can stationary sound waves be formed and detected?

   Lay powder in a glass tube, and if a sound wave is fed into the tube, it will vibrate the powder which will gather at the nodes of the stationary wave.

10. What is the wavelength on a stationary wave?

    The distance between two nodes on the wave.

11. What is superposition?

    When two or more waves cross, the resultant displacement is equal to the sum of the individual displacements.

12. What is constructive interference?

    When two displacements of the same direction combine to give an even greater displacement.

13. What is deconstructive interference?

    When displacements of different directions combine to cancel each other out partly to give a smaller displacement.