Re: Standing waves

[Wolfgang Rueckner <rueckner@FAS.HARVARD.EDU>]

At 1:48 PM -0800 2/9/04, John Denker wrote:
>  > P=0.5*mu*w^2*A^2*v           [1]
>
> This is an object lesson in the perils of plug-and-chug,
> or to say the same thing in more positive terms, a lesson
> in the importance of knowing the domain of applicability
> and validity of a formula.
>
> That derivation and the resulting formula [1] make some
> sense in the context of a running wave.  They make no sense
> whatsoever in the context of a standing wave.


But the standing wave is the superposition of the running wave and
it's reflection.  Why do you say that it makes no sense whatsoever
(aside from the Q that you mention)?  --  Wolfgang