Nodes and antinodes
What Nodes and antinodes means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Nodes and antinodes
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Reference: OCR
Nodes are points of permanently zero displacement, while antinodes are points where displacement varies with maximum amplitude.
At nodes displacements always cancel because the waves are in antiphase; at antinodes they reinforce in phase.
Nodes are where displacements always cancel and antinodes are where they reinforce.
Topics that use Nodes and antinodes
- Principle of superposition of waves and formation of stationary waves (AQA A-Level)
- Stationary waves (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Antinode
- Harmonics
- Node
- Amplitude variation
- Boundary conditions and allowed patterns
- Displacement–position envelope
- Displacement–time oscillation
- End correction in real tubes
Using Nodes and antinodes in the exam
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