English: Animation of the electric current in a dipole antenna transmitting radio waves, showing how the standing wave is formed. It shows a half wave dipole antenna with an alternating current at its fundamental resonant frequency applied from a radio transmitter (S). The magnitude of the current at each point along the antenna is graphed by the moving colored lines and bands. A band above the antenna represents a current component traveling to the right, while a band below the antenna represents a current component traveling to the left.

The short arrows in the element show the direction of current flow, the movement of positive charge. The long arrows show the direction and velocity of the alternating current waves. As can be seen, these can be in a direction opposite to the current flow.

The feed voltage excites two superposed traveling waves of current, one moving to the right (green) and reflecting from the right end of the antenna, and the other moving to the left (light blue) and reflecting from the left end of the antenna. Since the total current must be zero at the ends, the traveling waves reflect from the ends with a 180° phase change. The rapidly moving blue and green arrows illustrate that the two traveling waves are actually a single wave bouncing back and forth between the ends. The two traveling waves add together to form a current (dark blue line and short moving blue arrows in antenna) which is a standing wave with nodes (points of zero current)) at the ends.

The plus and minus signs show that the current standing wave creates an oscillating electric charge on the ends of the antenna. The oscillating electric and magnetic fields (not shown) created by this current radiate away from the antenna as an electromagnetic wave, a radio wave. The current is shown continuous across the gap where the feedline is attached, since the currents flow through the transmitter (S). The action is shown slowed down enormously.