Harmonics in Strings & Pipes | HL IB Physics Revision Notes 2025

Harmonics

Stationary waves can have different wave patterns, known as harmonics
- These depend on the frequency of the vibration and the boundary conditions (i.e. fixed and/or free ends)

The harmonics are the only frequencies and wavelengths that will form standing waves on strings or in pipes

Harmonics on Strings

The boundary condition is that both ends are fixed
The simplest wave pattern is a single loop made up of two nodes (i.e. the two fixed ends) and an antinode
- This is called the first harmonic
- The wavelength of this harmonic is $λ_{1} = 2 L$
- Using the wave equation, the frequency is $f_{1} = \frac{v}{2 L}$ , where v is the wave speed of the travelling waves on the string (i.e. the incident wave and the reflected wave)

As the vibrating frequency increases, more complex patterns arise
- The second harmonic has three nodes and two antinodes
- The third harmonic has four nodes and three antinodes

Fixed end wavelengths and harmonics (1), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Diagram showing the first three harmonics on a stretched string fixed at both ends

The nth harmonic will have (n + 1) nodes and n antinodes
The general expression for the wavelength of the nth harmonic on a string that is fixed at both ends is:

$λ_{n} = \frac{2 L}{n}$

Where:
- λ_n = wavelength in metres (m)
- L = length of the string in metres (m)
- n = integer number greater than zero - i.e. 1, 2, 3...

Knowing the wavelength λ_n of the standing wave and the speed v of the travelling waves (i.e. incident and reflected), the natural frequency f_n of any harmonic can be calculated using the wave equation v = fλ_n, so that:

$f_{n} = \frac{n v}{2 L}$

Harmonics in Pipes

The boundary conditions vary, since pipes can have:
- two open ends
- only one open end

For a pipe that is open at both ends:
- The simplest wave pattern is one central node and two antinodes
- The second harmonic consists of two nodes and three antinodes
- The nth harmonic will have (n + 1) antinodes and n nodes
- The expression for the wavelength of the nth harmonic in a pipe of length L is the same as that given above for nth harmonic on a string

4-5-4-harmonics-in-pipes-open-at-both-ends_sl-physics-rn

Diagram showing the first five harmonics in a pipe open at both ends

For a pipe that is open at one end:
- The lowest harmonic is a "half-loop" with one node and one antinode
- The next possible harmonic will have two nodes and two antinodes
  - This is the third harmonic, not the second one
  - Since only odd harmonics can exist under this boundary condition

4-5-4-harmonics-in-pipes-open-at-one-end_sl-physics-rn

Diagram showing the first three possible harmonics in a pipe open at one end. Only the odd harmonics can form in this case

The expression for the wavelength of the nth harmonic in a pipe of length L is:

$λ_{n} = \frac{4 L}{n}$

Where this time, n is an odd number - i.e. 1, 3, 5...

Under both boundary conditions, the natural frequencies are once again calculated from the wavelength of the standing wave and the speed v of the travelling waves using the wave equation

Worked example

Transverse waves travel along a stretched wire 100 cm long. The speed of the waves is 250 m s^–1.

Determine the maximum harmonic detectable by a person who can hear up to 15 kHz.

Answer:

Step 1: Write down the known quantities

Length of the wire, L = 100 cm = 1.00 m
Speed of the waves, v = 250 m s^–1
Maximum frequency of human hearing, f_n = 15 kHz = 15 000 Hz

Step 2: Write down the equation for the frequency of the nth harmonic and rearrange for n

$f_{n} = \frac{n v}{2 L} \Rightarrow n = \frac{2 L f_{n}}{v}$

Step 3: Substitute the numbers into the above equation

$n = \frac{2 \times 1.00 \times 15 000}{250} = 120$

The person can hear up to the 120th harmonic

Exam Tip

Before carrying out any calculation on standing waves, you should look carefully at the boundary conditions, since these will determine the wavelengths and natural frequencies of the harmonics.

The expressions for the wavelength of the nth harmonic on strings fixed at both ends (or in pipes open at both ends) and in pipes open at one end are not given in the data booklet and you must be able to recall them to make calculations easier.

Remember that n can take any integer value greater than zero in the case of standing waves on strings and in pipes open at both ends. For pipes open at one end, instead, n can only be an odd integer.

Harmonics in Strings & Pipes (HL IB Physics)

Revision Note

Harmonics

Harmonics on Strings

Harmonics in Pipes

Worked example

Exam Tip

Author: Katie M