Final answer:
Standing waves are localized wave phenomena that appear to remain in one place and are formed by the superposition of waves moving in opposite directions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Standing waves, also known as stationary waves, are localized wave phenomena that appear to remain in one place without moving. They are formed by the superposition of two or more waves moving in opposite directions, which results in the waves vibrating in fixed locations. Standing waves are characterized by nodes and antinodes, which are points of zero displacement and maximum displacement, respectively.
One example of standing waves is waves on a fixed length of string. When a string is fixed at both ends and set into vibration, it can create standing waves with specific wavelengths determined by the boundary conditions. Sound waves in both closed and open tubes can also produce standing waves.