Standing Wave Formation
The animation below depicts two waves moving through a medium in opposite directions. The blue wave is moving to the right and the green wave is moving to the left. As is the case in any situation in which two waves meet while moving along the same medium, interference occurs. The blue wave and the green wave interfere to form a new wave pattern known as the resultant. The resultant in the animation below is shown in black. The resultant is merely the result of the two individual waves - the blue wave and the green wave - added together in accordance with the principle of superposition.