Final answer:
To analyze a wave based on graphical data, determine the wavelength, amplitude, period, frequency, and velocity from the graph's metrics. Wavelength is the distance between peaks, amplitude is half the peak-to-trough height, period is the time between peak passings, frequency is the inverse of period, and velocity is the wavelength multiplied by the frequency.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Physics, when analyzing waves, we can determine various properties based on graphical representations. For the given wave:
- The wavelength (λ) is the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs on the wave.
- The amplitude (A) is measured as the vertical distance from the equilibrium position to a peak or to a trough, which is half the total vertical distance from a peak to a trough.
- The period (T) of the wave is the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a given point. The formula for the period is T = 1/f where f is the frequency.
- The frequency (f) is the number of wave cycles that pass a point per unit time and can be calculated using f = 1/T.
- The velocity (v) of the wave can be found by multiplying the wavelength by the frequency (v = λf).
The student should read these values directly from the graphs provided, using the metrics indicated on the axes. For an example, if one peak of a wave is at x=0 meters and the next is at x=2 meters, then the wavelength is 2 meters. If the time interval between these peaks passing a point is 0.625 seconds, then the period is 0.625 seconds. To find the frequency, take the inverse of the period, resulting in 1/0.625 Hz. The wave velocity would then be the product of the wavelength and the frequency.