standing wave

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a wave in a medium in which each point on the axis of the wave has an associated constant amplitude ranging from zero at the nodes to a maximum at the antinodes.

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standing wave British  

noun

1. Also called: stationary wave.  physics the periodic disturbance in a medium resulting from the combination of two waves of equal frequency and intensity travelling in opposite directions. There are generally two kinds of displacement, and the maximum value of the amplitude of one of these occurs at the same points as the minimum value of the amplitude of the other. Thus in the case of electromagnetic radiation the amplitude of the oscillations of the electric field has its greatest value at the points at which the magnetic oscillation is zero, and vice versa Compare node antinode

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standing wave Scientific  

/ stăn′dĭng /

1. A wave that oscillates in place, without transmitting energy along its extent. Standing waves tend to have stable points, called nodes, where there is no oscillation. Examples of standing waves include the vibration of a violin string and electron orbitals in an atom.

2. Also called stationary wave

3. See also harmonic oscillator

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Etymology

Origin of standing wave

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

In optics, a similar process occurs when two mirrors trap light between them, creating a standing wave inside what scientists call a cavity.

From Science Daily • Oct. 21, 2025

Due to their different polarizations, each standing wave attracted and corralled one of two groups of atoms, depending on their spin.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2024

Pros, however, relish the chance to practice tricks on a standing wave because they can so quickly hop back on the wave.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2023

It was gushing so hard that it created a standing wave.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2023

But any wavelength that doesn't have a node at each end of the string, can't make a standing wave on the string.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones