Physics treats waves as a disturbance caused in one or more fields. The values of the field oscillate in a repeated manner in stable equilibrium.
Mechanical and Electromagnetic waves are the common waves studied in physics. Wave is, in fact, the transport of Energy without any medium transportation.
Waves, in general, are everywhere; it is to be identified using a medium to understand their characteristics. A lock is a disturbance traverses a medium from one point to another.
When stretched from one end to another, the waveform remains in the rest position. If the particle is moved during its resting work, it forms a wave and starts moving from one point to another.
The characteristics of the particle make it move either upwards or downwards, sometimes forward or backwards. The movement of the wave in any direction is called the pulse.
A pulse is a single disturbance moving from one point to another point. If the wave is continuously moved back and forth, it causes a ripple in the medium, and it is called a Wave.
In physics, there are two types of waves observed and analysed. One is the Stationary Wave, and the other is the Travelling Wave.
Key Takeaways
- Stationary waves occur when two waves with the same frequency and amplitude moving in opposite directions interfere.
- Traveling waves move from one point to another.
- Stationary waves have nodes and antinodes, while traveling waves do not.
Stationary vs Travelling Waves
The difference between a stationary wave and a travelling wave is that the standing wave does not transport energy. In contrast, the travelling wave has the property of transporting Energy from one location to another.
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Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Stationary Wave | Travelling Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Property of the Wave | Stationary Wave does not transport Energy. | Travelling waves transport Energy. |
| Amplitude | Stationary waves oscillate with different amplitudes. | Travelling waves travel with the same amplitude. |
| Phase Difference | The phase difference between two particles is between 0 to pi | The phase difference between two particles is 0 to 2pi |
| Wave Profile | Wave Profile consists of Loops. | Wave Profile consists of crests and troughs. |
| Formation | The stationary wave can be formed only at a particular frequency and wavelength. | Travelling waves can be formed at different frequencies and wavelengths. |
What are Stationary Waves?
A stationary wave continuously oscillates in time, but the peak amplitude does not move in space. In simpler words, a standing wave moves vertically but not horizontally.
A stationary wave has two waves which have constant wavelength and amplitude. These two waves travel in the opposite direction.
While the waves are moving upward and downward, nodes are formed. A node is a position where the wave stands for a particular period.
An antinode is the position of the wave when it oscillates or vibrates at the maximum amplitude. Stationary waves were observed by a scientist named Michael Faraday.
The phenomenon is understood where the medium moves in the opposite direction to the wave. The resulting interference causes the wave to remain stationary.
Stationary wave does not transport any energy. The common phenomenon discussed above is called resonance.
The medium in which the standing waves occur is called the resonator. Energy propagation is nil as the amplitude remains the same for both locks.
The stationary wave’s harmonics depend on whether the medium is fixed or open. If the medium’s end is set, the lock shall be inverted once it reaches.
The wave automatically turns the right side up if the medium is open. Once both ends of the medium are fixed, it oscillates, and at a particular frequency, a stationary wave is produced.
What are Travelling Waves?
A travelling wave is a wave with a disturbance which moves along a medium. It transports energy from one point to another point.
The travelling wave moves at a constant speed. The tide is caused due to the movement of a particle which disturbs the next particle adjacent to it.
The displacement of the static particle from its equilibrium to movement causes the wave to move. The tide is observed to travel through a medium, where a crest is noticed moving from particle to particle.
A trough naturally follows the crest, and the cycle continues. The distinct wave pattern observed is called the sine wave.
The sine wave shall persist until another wave of a different frequency is introduced in the medium. Such movements of waves from one location to another, transporting Energy, is called a travelling wave.
A travelling wave is formed when not confined to a givens space. As such, a travelling wave is included and will be in motion briefly.
Take an example of an ocean wave; the wave starts moving further and is encountered by another wave in the opposite direction. They merge and travel in a different order, again met by another wave in the opposite.
It is understood that the actual appearance of a travelling wave is difficult to investigate as the particles keep moving in the direction it is subjected to.
Main Differences Between Stationary Waves and Travelling Waves
- The main difference between Stationary waves and Travelling waves is, Stationary does not carry any energy while Travelling waves move Energy from one place to another.
- The stationary waves oscillate with different amplitudes while travelling waves oscillate with the same amplitude.
- The phase difference between two particles of a stationary wave is a value between 0 and pi, while, in the case of travelling waves, the value lies between 0 and 2pi.
- The wave profile of stationary waves consists of loops, while the wave profile of travelling waves consists of crests and troughs.
- The stationary wave can be formed at a particular wavelength and frequency, while travelling waves can be formed at any frequency and wavelength.
- https://yakari.polytechnique.fr/Django-pub/documents/matteo2004rp-1pp.pdf
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/0901.1026
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/patt-sol/9701007
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
