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Can electromagnetic waves produce standing waves?

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Short answer... yes. Slightly longer answer (and a trick to calculate the speed of light) ... think microwave (yes, microwaves are longer than lightwaves, but otherwise the same EM radiation). read more

The wave nature of em waves allows it to be used as a standing wave too. The classical electrodynamics need not be invoked for the purpose. General equations of superposition of waves with phase difference of 180 degree is enough to create standing waves. read more

A standing wave can be produced in a guitar string where the wavelength of the wave is the same length as the string (I believe this is referred to as the first harmonic) and where the string is an exact multiple of the wavelength of the wave (referred to as the second and subsequent harmonics). read more

For any real-world system, however, the higher frequency standing waves are difficult if not impossible to produce. Tuning forks, for example, vibrate strongly at the fundamental frequency, very little at the second harmonic, and effectively not at all at the higher harmonics. read more

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