image credit: Andrew Davidhazy; image source; larger image

Hyperphysics: Standing Waves

The photo, by Andrew Davidhazy from the Rochester Institute of Technology, shows a vibrating string with a weight hanging from the lower end. For more details, see String Vibrations. To learn about standing waves on strings and in air, visit Hyperphysics: Standing Waves.

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Wave on a String

Security note:
Once you have clicked on the "simulation" link below, be sure to read the Java Security Advisory before running the simulation: To do that, click the "Read now" button on the yellow band near the top of the PhET page.

In the PhET applet, Wave on a String, you can drag the end of the string up and down to simulate wave motion. To learn more, visit Physic 2000's Standing Waves and Resonance.

(This feature was updated on May 5, 2013.)

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image credit: R.J. Celotta, S. Balakirsky, J.A. Stroscio/NIST; image source; larger image

STM Gallery

This scanning tunneling microscope (STM) image shows a "corral" for electrons that was created on a crystal surface. To find out how how these images are made, visit The Scanning Tunneling Microscope.  For an artistic gallery of similar images, see IBM: STM Gallery.

(This feature was updated on March 23, 2012.)

Standing Waves: Harmonics and Patterns

To find out how two running waves in a tube add up to a standing wave, visit this Penn State animation. For a tutorial on standing waves, with animations, visit Standing Waves:  Harmonics and Patterns.

(This feature was updated on March 21, 2012.)