Final answer:
To measure the speed of waves in water, determine the wavelength by measuring the distance between wave crests, then use a stopwatch to time how long a wave takes to travel a set distance. Calculate wave speed with the formula Wave Speed = Wavelength / Period, using the average of multiple measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the speed of waves in water, you can follow this experimental procedure. You'll need a stopwatch, a meter stick, and a calm pool of water. Start by throwing a stone into the center of the pool to create ripples. Measure the distance between two crests of a wave to determine the wavelength (the distance should be measured parallel to the direction of the wave). Use the stopwatch to time how long it takes for a wave to travel a known distance. You may want to mark a starting point and an endpoint that's a meter or two apart along the edge of the pool, for accurate timing.
Once you've recorded these measurements, you can calculate the wave speed using the formula: Wave Speed = Wavelength / Period, where the period is the time taken for one complete wavelength to pass the marked point. To reduce error, take multiple measurements and calculate an average speed. Note that environmental factors such as wind or other disturbances in the pool could affect your measurements, so try to conduct this experiment on a calm day and in still water.