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AT&T Archives: Similiarities of Wave Behavior (Bonus Edition)

AT&T Tech Channel · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Electronics & circuit designEveryday physics & science demosHistory of computing

What it is

A Bell Labs film in which Dr. J.N. Shive uses a mechanical wave machine to demonstrate reflection, standing waves, resonance and impedance matching. He includes some equations but relies mostly on real-world examples a layperson can follow.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN repeatedly calls it the clearest introduction to waves and transmission-line behavior, better than modern explainers.

  • 12 people recommended it
  • 15 different months
  • 8 strong recommendations
  • first 2014, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “I didn't really understand waves until I saw”

    Made waves finally understandable through visual demos

    kaoD, 2014-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Show HN: Explained Visually”

  2. “made standing wave, reflections, energy loss due to impedance mismatch, and impedance matching much clearer than anything else I've seen”

    Clear explanation of standing waves and impedance matching

    tzs, 2015-08 · Strong recommendation · in “How a Watch Works (1949) [video]”

  3. “By far the best introduction to the subject of waves of any sort.”

    Best introduction to waves

    Causality1, 2019-08 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: Your favourite tutorial for total beginners?”

  4. “This very old video does it all explain better than all todays videos.”

    Simple physical models explain better than modern videos

    _trampeltier, 2022-05 · Strong recommendation · in “Hetzner subsea fibre cut outage”

  5. “Think of it as a wave, and then watch this video”

    Builds a strong wave-based mental model of circuits

    fsociety, 2023-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Signal Reflections in Electronic Circuits”

  6. “John Shive's Wave Machines is where every student should start”

    Wave machines as starting point for students

    Joel_Mckay, 2025-01 · Strong recommendation · in “I created an open-source Hardware Hacking Wiki – with tutorials for beginners”

  7. “Shive uses a mechanical transverse wave machine to demonstrate the concepts involved in transmission lines, including reflection, standing waves and impedance matching.”

    Wave machine demonstrates reflection, standing waves, impedance matching

    topspin, 2017-03 · Recommendation · in “Motors Big and Small (1971) [video]”

  8. “Also check out the excellent video from Bell Labs”

    Shive wave machine shows termination, reflection, resonance, impedance

    nudgeee, 2020-08 · Recommendation · in “Signal Reflection”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: wave machine, standing waves, impedance matching, bell labs, signal reflection

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