For Educators · Standing Waves
Standing Waves for a see-saw balance
Built for educators teaching it to a class. Drop a live demo into a lecture or assign it as a shareable link — no lab installs. Simulate a see-saw balance live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.
Standing Waves on a StringLive
harmonics · nodes & antinodes
Controls
A string fixed at both ends can only vibrate at its harmonics. Each mode n has n+1 nodes (pink) that stay still while the antinodes swing — the physics of every stringed instrument.
Presets
Data Inspector
Harmonicn = 3
Frequency330 Hz
Nodes4
Antinodes3
Wavelength2L/3
Governing equation
Reading this result: 3 half-wavelengths fit the string, so there are 3 antinodes (max swing) and 4 nodes (fixed points). At harmonic n = 3 the string sings at 330 Hz — exactly 3× the 110 Hz fundamental, and the wavelength is 2L/3.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is this good for educators?
- Yes — this version of "Standing Waves for a see-saw balance" is framed for educators teaching it to a class. Drop a live demo into a lecture or assign it as a shareable link — no lab installs.
- Do I need to install anything?
- No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.