- #1
jdkeeley
- 1
- 0
Hi,
I was taught that a standing wave is formed when a progressive wave meets a boundary and is reflected. I was also taught that waves that meet a fixed end, reflect on the opposite side of the axis to the side that they met it at. (I hope that makes sense)
If this is true, when the wave is reflected, I don't understand why any wave is formed at all. Surely, if the two waves are opposites in the way they are, their amplitudes would interfere destructively and not form a wave at all.
I have been looking around for answer to this question elsewhere online but cannot seem to come up with one and wasn't sure where else to post this.
I have a physics exam on Monday and I don't understand this particular bit!
Thanks
I was taught that a standing wave is formed when a progressive wave meets a boundary and is reflected. I was also taught that waves that meet a fixed end, reflect on the opposite side of the axis to the side that they met it at. (I hope that makes sense)
If this is true, when the wave is reflected, I don't understand why any wave is formed at all. Surely, if the two waves are opposites in the way they are, their amplitudes would interfere destructively and not form a wave at all.
I have been looking around for answer to this question elsewhere online but cannot seem to come up with one and wasn't sure where else to post this.
I have a physics exam on Monday and I don't understand this particular bit!
Thanks