Standing Waves

Success Criteria:

1. Describe reflection of pulses from free and fixed ends.

2. Produce graphs of superposition.

3. Explain how standing waves are produced in

(a) a string fixed at both ends;

(b) a column of air open at one end; and

(c) a column of air open at both ends.

4. Use the terms ‘fundamental frequency’, harmonic’ and ‘resonance’ to describe the vibrations of a standing wave.

5. Understand the beat frequency as a special case of interference.

6. Calculate a beat frequency.