- #1
sayetsu
- 40
- 3
- TL;DR Summary
- Would someone explain it, including examples?
Why is a standing wave in a string not moving toward you like an ocean wave? How do photons travel from the sun as waves? What's the difference?
Photons do not travel as waves. They're a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon, and aren't involved in the description of light as electromagnetic waves at all.sayetsu said:How do photons travel from the sun as waves?
When you pluck a guitar string, does your finger displace only the point where it touches the string or the entire string? Try answering your own questions by asking intermediate questions on the path to the final answer.sayetsu said:Also, I just realized there's more I don't get. How does providing energy at, say, the end of a string produce a standing wave along its entire length if there is no lateral motion?
sayetsu said:Also, I just realized there's more I don't get. How does providing energy at, say, the end of a string produce a standing wave along its entire length if there is no lateral motion?
nsaspook said:Watch this video.
Standing waves are a type of wave that appears to be standing still, as opposed to moving through space. They are created when two waves with the same frequency and amplitude travel in opposite directions and interfere with each other. Traveling waves, on the other hand, are waves that move through space and transfer energy from one point to another.
The main difference between standing waves and traveling waves is that standing waves do not move through space, while traveling waves do. Standing waves are created by the interference of two waves, while traveling waves are created by a disturbance in a medium.
Examples of standing waves include sound waves in a closed pipe, like in a flute or organ, and electromagnetic waves between two parallel mirrors. Examples of traveling waves include ocean waves, sound waves in air, and light waves.
The amplitudes of standing waves and traveling waves can vary. In standing waves, the amplitude remains constant at different points along the wave, while in traveling waves, the amplitude can change as the wave moves through space. However, in both types of waves, the amplitude is directly related to the energy carried by the wave.
Standing waves are used in musical instruments, such as stringed instruments, to create different notes and tones. They are also used in medical imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, to create images of internal structures. Traveling waves have a wide range of applications, including communication technologies, such as radio and cell phones, and in various industries, such as oil and gas exploration and earthquake monitoring.