Standing waves are basically two waves traveling in opposite directions that constructively interfere with each other so it looks like the whole system is moving in simple harmonic motion.
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Simple harmonic motion is when we used Hooke’s Law for the mass-spring system to figure out the displacement, period, or frequency of the system.

First harmonics have 2 nodes and 1 antinode. Second harmonics have 3 notes and 2 antinodes, third harmonics have 4 nodes and 3 antinodes, and so on.

Click here to go to next lesson on Build a Standing Wave Machine.

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