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Analytical Treatment of Stationary Waves

In this case, there will be no reversal of phase due to reflection. Let the incident wave be represented by the equation

The reflected wave will have the same amplitude, velocity and wavelength. It can be represented by

The resultant displacement of the particle subjected to these two disturbances simultaneously is, y = y1 + y2

This represents a sine wave with amplitude  . Thus, the amplitude of the resultant wave is a function of x.

Differentiating equation (iii) with respect to time, we get

Differentiating again with respect to time, we get

Differentiating equation (iii) with respect to x, we get

Sub Topics
  • Changes with respect to position
  • a) Positions of the antinodes
  • b) Positions of the nodes
  • Case (ii) Reflection occurring at a fixed end
  • Changes with respect to position
  • a) Positions of the antinodes
  • b) Positions of the nodes
 

Changes with respect to position

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a) Positions of the antinodes

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Consider the positions, where

Since the resultant amplitude R is maximum, these points correspond to the antinodes. It may be noted that the antinodes correspond to  i.e., zero strain. Thus, antinodes are obtained at those points  corresponding to

The antinodes are formed at those points corresponding to etc. The result that x = 0 corresponds to an antinode, indicates that the open end of an organ pipe or the free end of a stretched string corresponds to an antinode.

b) Positions of the nodes

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Consider the positions, where

Then y = 0

R = 0

Since y = 0, these positions correspond to nodes. The strain represented by will be maximum at these points.

From the above analysis, it follows that two consecutive nodes or antinodes are separated by l/2. A node and the adjacent antinodes are separated by l/4. Between two nodes, an antinode is formed and vice versa.

Case (ii) Reflection occurring at a fixed end

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In this case, there will be a reversal of phase due to reflection. Let the incident wave be represented by the equation.

The reflected wave will have the same magnitude of the amplitude, velocity and wavelength. Due to reversal of phase (i.e., a crest returning as a trough or vice versa) the sign of A is reversed in the expression for y2.

The resultant displacement of the particle subjected to these two displacements simultaneously, is

y = y1 + y2

Using the identity

This represents a simple harmonic wave whose amplitude has the magnitude

The velocity of the particle at any instant of time is given by

Acceleration is given by

The strain or the compression is given by

Changes with respect to position

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a) Positions of the antinodes

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Consider those positions where

Since the resultant amplitude is maximum, these points correspond to antinodes.

antinodes are obtained at points corresponding to

b) Positions of the nodes

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Consider the positions where

Then y = 0

R = 0

Since the resultant amplitude is zero, these positions correspond to nodes.

Therefore, the fixed end corresponds to a node.


Waves
Related Pages
  • Analytic Proofs of Geometric Theorems
  • Fundamental Concepts of Analytical Geometry
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