IB Diploma · Physics · Chapter 14

Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance: complete notes

Neat, exam-ready notebook-style notes for Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance, following the IB Diploma syllabus, SL and HL. This chapter is part of the complete Physics Notes for IB Diploma Students (SL and HL): All 24 Topics.

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Free preview: Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance notes

A quick look at the chapter from our IB Diploma Physics notes. The full chapter notes have the detailed explanations, diagrams and practice questions with answers.

Topics in this chapter

1. What you must be able to do
2. How a standing wave forms
3. Amplitude and phase along the wave
4. Strings and the boundary conditions
5. Two fixed ends (like a guitar string)
6. One fixed end and one free end
7. Standing waves in air columns (pipes)
8. Measuring and applying standing waves
9. Where standing waves are used
10. Resonance
11. Damping
12. Damping and resonance
13. Useful and destructive resonance

“I can” checklist: what you must be able to do

• I can explain how a standing wave forms and describe amplitude and phase along it.
• I can sketch harmonics for strings and pipes for each boundary condition.
• I can find \(\lambda\) and \(f\) of the \(n\)th harmonic from \(L\) and \(v\).
• I can describe resonance and the effect of damping, and name useful and destructive examples.

What is inside the full chapter notes

• Concept notes with 8 worked examples
• Patterns for strings and pipes with all boundary conditions
• Common mistakes; investigation (IA) tips
• 15 Paper 1A-style MCQs, explained
• 3 Paper 2-style questions (one data-based) with mark schemes
• Quick-reference sheet and "I can" checklist

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What you get in the pack

• All 24 topics of IB Diploma Physics for students taking Standard Level or Higher Level (first assessment 2025): kinematics, forces and momentum, work, energy and power, rigid body mechanics, special relativity, thermal energy transfers, the greenhouse effect, gas laws, thermodynamics, current and circuits, simple harmonic motion, the wave model, wave phenomena, standing waves, the Doppler effect, gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, induction, atomic structure, quantum physics, radioactive decay, fission, fusion and stars
• Every syllabus statement covered in order, each marked SL or HL, with clear notes, tables and diagrams drawn for these notes
• Worked examples in every topic: calculations and model answers that show how to earn the marks
• Original Paper 1A-style multiple-choice questions with explained answers, plus Paper 2-style structured and data-based questions with full mark schemes (no past-paper reprints)
• Common mistakes and investigation (internal assessment) ideas for every topic
• Quick-reference sheet and an "I can" checklist at the end of every topic
• Colour PDF and a black and white copy of every chapter for printing
• Independent notes for IB Diploma students; not endorsed by or affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)

All chapters in this pack

1. Ch 1 A.1 Kinematics
2. Ch 2 A.2 Forces and momentum
3. Ch 3 A.3 Work, energy and power
4. Ch 4 A.4 Rigid body mechanics
5. Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity
6. Ch 6 B.1 Thermal energy transfers
7. Ch 7 B.2 Greenhouse effect
8. Ch 8 B.3 Gas laws
9. Ch 9 B.4 Thermodynamics
10. Ch 10 B.5 Current and circuits
11. Ch 11 C.1 Simple harmonic motion
12. Ch 12 C.2 Wave model
13. Ch 13 C.3 Wave phenomena
14. Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance
15. Ch 15 C.5 Doppler effect
16. Ch 16 D.1 Gravitational fields
17. Ch 17 D.2 Electric and magnetic fields
18. Ch 18 D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields
19. Ch 19 D.4 Induction
20. Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom
21. Ch 21 E.2 Quantum physics
22. Ch 22 E.3 Radioactive decay
23. Ch 23 E.4 Fission
24. Ch 24 E.5 Fusion and stars