Final answer:
The wavelength of the ocean waves causing an ocean buoy to move up-and-down once every 2.0 seconds, with a wave speed of 9.0 m/s, is 18.0 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about the wavelength of ocean waves given that an ocean buoy moves up-and-down once every 2.0 seconds with a wave speed of 9.0 m/s. To determine the wavelength, we can use the formula of wave speed (v) which equals the frequency (f) times the wavelength (λ), expressed as v = fλ. First, we need to calculate the frequency. Since the buoy completes one oscillation every 2.0 seconds, we have a frequency of 0.5 Hz (since frequency is the inverse of the period, f = 1/T, where T is the period). Then we can rearrange the formula to solve for the wavelength: λ = v/f. Plugging in the values, λ = 9.0 m/s / 0.5 Hz, giving us a wavelength of 18.0 meters.