3D - 2

Is there a system to classify/explain 3D wave behaviour such as sound in space?

This is related to how sand/powders or liquids etc. will form into flower-like patterns when a sound vibrates on the same surface. So is there a logical progression for these patterns based on the frequencies of the sounds (or mixing of fequencies/amplitudes etc.)? ...and what does this behaviour look like as a whole (when seen in its entirety through all variations)? Thanks. Also, I am not a science pro. or student so I would like to learn in a somewhat less technical manner if possible.

Public Comments

1. Yes, standing waves. Suppose you have a sink in your kitchen and an automatic dishwasher next to it. Fill the sink half full of water. Turn on the dishwasher. The vibrations from the electric motor will transmit to the sink and vibrate the water. You will see the water forms a set of patterns. These are called standing waves because the water appears to stand up above the average water level. This occurs because the sink forms a resonant chamber and some wavelengths will reinforce and others die out. The ones than persists depend on the dimensions of the sink and the speed of sound through water. Wave theory is in fact fundamental to physics. Look at a physics textbook and you'll see it appears in the chapters on sound, light, electricity and magnetism, celestial mechanics, and matter waves, among others.