standing wave

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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.

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