A stationary wave, also known as a standing wave, and a sound wave are different concepts and describe different phenomena.
A sound wave is a type of mechanical wave that propagates through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. It is created by the vibration or oscillation of particles in the medium. Sound waves consist of compressions and rarefactions, where compressions are regions of higher pressure and rarefactions are regions of lower pressure. These pressure variations propagate through the medium, carrying energy and transmitting sound.
Sound waves are characterized by properties such as frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), and wavelength. The frequency of a sound wave determines its pitch, with higher frequencies corresponding to higher pitches. The amplitude of a sound wave determines its loudness, with larger amplitudes corresponding to louder sounds. The wavelength of a sound wave is the distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions and is related to the frequency and speed of the wave.
On the other hand, a stationary wave, also known as a standing wave, is a wave pattern that appears to be stationary and does not propagate through space. It is formed by the superposition (combination) of two waves of the same frequency and amplitude, traveling in opposite directions. The interaction between the two waves leads to constructive and destructive interference, resulting in certain points along the wave appearing stationary.
Stationary waves are typically observed in systems with fixed boundaries, such as a vibrating string fixed at both ends or in a pipe with one end closed. In these systems, the waves reflecting off the boundaries interfere with the incident waves to produce a stationary wave pattern. The points along the stationary wave where there is no displacement are called nodes, while the points of maximum displacement are called antinodes.
Stationary waves do not transmit energy in a net manner but rather oscillate in place. They have characteristic modes or patterns of vibration, and each mode corresponds to a different frequency and wavelength of the standing wave.
In summary, a sound wave is a propagating wave that carries sound energy through a medium, while a stationary wave is a wave pattern that appears to be stationary and does not propagate. Sound waves are characterized by properties such as frequency, amplitude, and wavelength, while stationary waves are characterized by nodes and antinodes.