Question

A traveling wave has displacement given by y(x,t)=(2.0cm)×cos(2πx−4πt), where x is measured in cm and t in s. what is the speed of the wave?

Answer 1

v = 2 cm/s

Step-by-step explanation:

The equation of the wave is

y(x,t) = (2.0cm)*cos(2π*x−4π*t)

Where,

x is measured in cm

t in s

A more general formula for this equation would be

y(x,t) = A*cos(k*x−ω*t)

Where,

A = amplitude.

k = the wavenumber

ω = the angular frequency

The velocity of the wave corresponds to

v = ω/k

v = 4π / 2π = 2 cm/s

v = 2 cm/s