standing wave Type of wave in which the surface oscillates vertically between fixed points called ‘nodes’, without any forward progression. The crest at one moment becomes the trough at the next and so on. The points of maximum vertical rise and fall are called ‘antinodes’. At the nodes particles show no vertical motion but exhibit the maximum horizontal motion. Standing waves may be caused by the meeting of two similar wave groups that are travelling in opposing directions. See SEICHE.

standing wave A wave in which the surface of the water oscillates vertically between fixed points (‘nodes’), without any forward progression, the crest at one moment becoming the trough at the next. The points of maximum vertical rise and fall are called ‘antinodes’. At the nodes the water particles show no vertical motion but exhibit the maximum horizontal motion. Standing waves may be caused by the meeting of two similar wave groups travelling in opposing directions. See seiche.

standing wave In physics, a wave in which the points of maximum vibration (the antinodes) and the points of no vibration (the nodes) do not move. A standing wave forms by the interference of waves of equal frequency and intensity travelling in opposite directions.