Ace A Level Physics 2026 – Power Up Your Physics Prowess!

In the context of standing waves on a string fixed at both ends, the first harmonic, also known as the fundamental frequency, corresponds to the configuration where the string vibrates in its simplest mode. In this mode, one full wavelength fits into the length of the string.

The relationship between the wavelength and the length of the string for the first harmonic is such that the length of the string is half the wavelength. This can be understood through the observation that the first harmonic has a node at each fixed end of the string and a single antinode in the center.

Because the length of the string is L, you can see that the full wavelength, which is represented by the distance from one node to the next, is twice the length of the string. Therefore, we express this relationship mathematically as:

Wavelength = 2L.

This foundational concept is crucial in understanding wave phenomena, especially in contexts involving standing waves on strings or tubes.