Waves and Quantization

• Recall in our earlier study of waves:

??= wavelength = distance it takes

v = velocity of wave

L = ? / 2, L = ? , etc.

• Standing waves as example of a “quantization rule”:
  • Suppose both ends of a string are fixed so that they can’t move.
  • For a fixed length of string, only waves with certain wavelengths will survive to make standing waves... those wavelengths which have zeroes at the ends of the string.

Quantization rule:

for pattern to repeat

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