Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams 3

Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams 3 - Fixed And Open Ends

The meaning and operation of this applet is basically the same as for Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams 1 - Both Ends Fixed. Please see that page if you are unclear how to proceed here.

Below are several static diagrams of standing waves for a medium fixed at end and open at the other, along with the names for each vibration and a count of the antinodes and nodes for each vibration.

If you are unclear about the meaning of the terms 'antinode' and 'node', be sure to look back at Understanding Standing Wave Diagrams. Most likely you got here from that page. Page through the Flash animation which you will find there. The meaning of the terms 'antinode' and 'node' is presented in that animation and also in the discussion on that page.

Picture of Standing Wave

Name

Structure

1st Harmonic

or

Fundamental

1 Antinode

1 Node

3rd Harmonic

or

1st Overtone

2 Antinodes

2 Nodes

5th Harmonic

or

2nd Overtone

3 Antinodes

3 Nodes

7th Harmonic

or

3rd Overtone

4 Antinodes

4 Nodes

9th Harmonic

or

4th Overtone

5 Antinodes

5 Nodes

Notice that this harmonic structure is completely different than that for the other two situations, i.e., fixed at both ends and open at both ends. This harmonic structure proceeds from the 1st to the 3rd to the 5th harmonic, and so on. The other two harmonic structures proceed from the 1st to the 2nd to the 3rd harmonic, and so on.

However, in every case, (fixed at both ends, open at both ends, fixed at one end and open at the other end), the first possible standing wave is called the fundamental, the second possible standing wave is called the 1st overtone, the third possible standing wave is called the 2nd overtone, and so on.