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Theme C — Wave Behaviour

C.4 Standing Waves and Resonance — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 13 parts Lesson 26 of 37 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics HL Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
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Lesson summary

C.4 Standing Waves and Resonance — IB PHYSICS HL notes: Describe standing waves, their nodes and antinodes and harmonics on strings and pipes, and explain free and forced oscillations, resonance and damping.Cause — two waves of the same frequency, wavelength and similar amplitude…

  • All wave types
  • Fixed positions
  • Within a loop
  • Odd number of nodes between
  • Even number of nodes between
  • Only two values

Part 1 of 11Formation of standing waves

Formation of standing waves
Cause
  • Cause two waves of the same frequency, wavelength and similar amplitude travelling in opposite directions along the same line superpose
  • Usually a travelling wave superposes with its own reflection
Result
  • Result crests and troughs only move vertically and the pattern does not travel
All wave types
  • All wave types superposition applies to transverse and longitudinal waves
Energy
  • Energy a standing wave stores energy and a progressive wave transfers it
Condition
  • Condition the half-cycles of the wave must be symmetrical, so a shape with a straight leading edge and sinusoidal trailing edge forms no standing wave

Part 2 of 11Nodes and antinodes

Node
  • Node a point of zero amplitude where the waves are in antiphase and cancel by destructive interference
Antinode
  • Antinode a point of maximum amplitude where the waves are in phase and add by constructive interference
Fixed positions
  • Fixed positions nodes do not move and antinodes only oscillate perpendicular to the string
Spacing
  • Spacing adjacent nodes are λ/2 apart

Part 3 of 11Phase on a standing wave

1Within a loop
  • Within a loop all points are in phase
2Odd number of nodes between
  • Odd number of nodes between points are in antiphase
3Even number of nodes between
  • Even number of nodes between points are in phase
4Only two values
  • Only two values the phase difference between two points is 0 or π, unlike a travelling wave which can be anything from 0 to 2π
FeatureTravelling waveStanding wave
Energy transferYesNo net transfer, energy is stored
AmplitudeSame for all pointsZero at nodes to maximum at antinodes
PhaseChanges continuously along the waveSame between adjacent nodes, antiphase across a node
WavelengthCrest to crestTwice the node-to-node distance

Part 4 of 11Boundary conditions

Strings
  • Strings fixed at both ends, free at both ends, or one end fixed and one free
Pipes
  • Pipes closed at both ends, open at both ends, or closed at one end
Natural frequencies
  • Natural frequencies an integer number of half wavelengths fits on the string
Fixed end or closed end
  • Fixed end or closed end the reflected wave is in antiphase so the end is a node
Free end or open end
  • Free end or open end the reflected wave is in phase so the end is an antinode
Variables
  • Variables the allowed patterns depend on the driving frequency and the boundary conditions
String frequency
  • String frequency it depends on tension and mass per unit length

Part 5 of 11Harmonics on a string fixed at both ends

1First harmonic
  • First harmonic a single loop with two nodes and one antinode, λ1 = 2L
2Higher harmonics
  • Higher harmonics the nth harmonic has (n + 1) nodes and n antinodes
3Wavelength
  • λn = 2L/n for n = 1, 2, 3, …
4Frequency
  • Frequency fn = nv/2L, where v is the wave speed on the string

Part 6 of 11Harmonics in pipes

1Open at both ends
  • Open at both ends the first harmonic has one node and two antinodes
  • The nth harmonic has n nodes and (n + 1) antinodes
  • λn = 2L/n for all n
2Open at one end
  • Open at one end the lowest harmonic is a half loop with one node and one antinode
  • Only odd harmonics exist, λn = 4L/n with n = 1, 3, 5, …
3Frequencies
  • Frequencies fn = v/λn in both cases
4Next harmonic after the first in a closed pipe
  • Next harmonic after the first in a closed pipe the third harmonic and not the second
5Recall
  • Recall these wavelength expressions are not given in the data booklet

Part 7 of 11Free and forced oscillations

Free oscillation
  • Free oscillation only internal forces act and there is no energy input
  • The system oscillates at its natural frequency
Natural frequency f0
  • Natural frequency f0 the frequency of oscillation when the system is allowed to oscillate freely
Forced oscillation
  • Forced oscillation produced by a periodic external driving force
  • The system oscillates at the driving frequency
Examples
  • Examples a struck tuning fork is free, a glass shattered by sound and a clarinet are forced

Part 8 of 11Resonance

Condition
  • Condition driving frequency f = natural frequency f0
Effect
  • Effect the amplitude of the oscillations is a maximum
Energy
  • Energy the energy transfer from driver to system is most efficient
Away from resonance
  • Away from resonance if the driving frequency is slightly higher or lower, the amplitude is smaller
Example
  • Example a child pushed on a swing at the swing's natural frequency swings highest
Uses and hazards
  • Uses and hazards useful in musical instruments and microwave ovens, harmful in bridges and buildings

Part 9 of 11Damping

Definition
  • Definition the reduction in energy and amplitude of oscillations due to resistive forces such as friction and air resistance
Frequency
  • Frequency the frequency of damped oscillations does not change as the amplitude falls
Light damping
  • Light damping the amplitude decays exponentially over many cycles with a constant period
  • A pendulum slowly stops
Critical damping
  • Critical damping the system returns to equilibrium in the shortest time without oscillating
  • Examplecar suspension
Heavy damping
  • Heavy damping the system returns slowly without oscillating
  • Exampledoor dampers

Part 10 of 11Resonance curve and damping

1Curve
  • Curve amplitude against driving frequency peaks at the natural frequency
2More damping
  • More damping the peak is lower, the curve is broader and the peak moves slightly to a lower frequency
3Natural frequency
  • Natural frequency it stays the same
4Resistive and restoring forces
  • Resistive and restoring forces a resistive force opposes motion and causes damping while a restoring force returns the system to equilibrium

Part 11 of 11More from the specification

Standing waves
  • Standing waves formed by superposition of two identical waves travelling in opposite directions, giving stationary waves with nodes and antinodes
Nodes and antinodes
  • Nodes and antinodes nodes have zero amplitude and antinodes maximum, separated by half a wavelength
Harmonics
  • Harmonics in a string fixed at both ends, the fundamental has length equal to half wavelength and higher modes are whole multiples
Graph and scale
  • Graph and scale a displacement-position graph with a scale shows the envelope of the stationary wave, with no net energy transfer
Stationary
  • Not moving.
Stationary wave
  • Wave formed by two progressive waves of the same frequency travelling in opposite directions.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Standing waveA wave pattern formed by the superposition of two waves travelling in opposite directions, with fixed nodes and antinodes.
NodeA point of zero amplitude in a standing wave.
AntinodeA point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave.
HarmonicA mode of vibration whose frequency is a whole-number multiple of the first harmonic.
Natural frequencyThe frequency at which a system oscillates when displaced and released.
ResonanceThe large increase in amplitude when the driving frequency equals the natural frequency.
DampingThe loss of energy and amplitude from an oscillating system due to resistive forces.
Critical dampingDamping that returns a system to equilibrium in the shortest time without oscillation.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying a standing wave transfers energy along the medium — there is no net energy transfer.
2
Using the open-pipe formula for a closed pipe — a pipe closed at one end has only odd harmonics with λ = 4L/n.
3
Saying points on opposite sides of a node are in phase — they are in antiphase.
4
Confusing resistive force with restoring force.
5
Saying damping changes the natural frequency — it lowers the amplitude and broadens the peak only.

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