Stationary Waves Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are stationary waves?
Stationary waves can be thought of as two progressive waves moving in opposite directions and superimposed one on the other, resulting in a fixed pattern of nodes and antinodes.
What are nodes in a stationary wave?
Nodes have minimum (ideally zero) oscillation.
What are antinodes in a stationary wave?
Antinodes are points of maximum amplitude.
What is the distance between a node and the adjacent antinode in a stationary wave?
The distance is a quarter wavelength.
What is the role of resonators in wave energy?
Resonators store wave energy by reflecting the wave back on itself to form a stationary wave pattern.
What condition allows resonators to efficiently receive energy?
Resonators only efficiently receive energy from an external source that has a frequency close to one of their own natural frequencies, known as resonance.
What is a fundamental mode of oscillation in resonators?
The fundamental mode is the lowest natural mode of oscillation.
What can resonance cause if not properly managed?
Resonance can be damaging.
What happens if vehicle wheels are not carefully balanced?
They may resonate with the natural frequency of the steering or suspension, causing dangerous vibrations.
How does a microwave oven utilize resonance?
A resonant cavity is used to build up microwave power, creating hot spots (antinodes) and cold spots (nodes) inside the oven.
Why is food rotated in a microwave oven?
Food is rotated to achieve even cooking due to the presence of hot and cold spots.
What is the significance of stationary wave resonators in musical instruments?
Musical instruments use stationary wave resonators to enhance sound production.
Fill in the blank: A stationary wave is formed by the _______ of two progressive waves moving in opposite directions.
superposition
True or False: Antinodes are points of minimum amplitude in a stationary wave.
False
List two differences that distinguish a stationary wave from a progressive wave.
- Stationary waves have fixed nodes and antinodes
- Progressive waves transfer energy continuously without forming fixed points.
Explain how and why TV antennas make use of stationary waves.
TV antennas utilize stationary waves to optimally capture signals, with the design tailored to the wavelength of the TV signal.
