Nodes and anti-nodes can be seen in a Slinky


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Theory:

A longitudinal wave sent down the length of a spring can be seen as a zone of compression followed by a zone of rarefaction. The wave will eventually reflect off of the other end of the spring and travel back.

If a second wave is traveling out as the first wave is traveling back, the two waves will interfere with one another. If one end of the spring is oscillated at certain frequencies, a standing wave (or resonance) appears in the spring. One then sees points on the spring which are standing still (nodes) and other points which are oscillating vigorously (anti-nodes).

Increasing the frequency of oscillation of the spring will make the spring oscillate chaotically. As the frequency of oscillation approaches another resonant frequency, standing waves again appear on the spring. This new oscillation mode (or standing wave pattern) has one more node than the previous one.

Oscillating Mode

Figure 1: Three visible nodes

Chaotic Oscillations

Figure 2: Increasing frequency

Next Oscillating Mode

Figure 3: Six visible nodes


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