Final answer:
A change in amplitude does not affect wave speed; the amplitude of a wave is independent of its speed. Wave speed is determined by medium properties and is related to wavelength and frequency through the wave equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, a change in amplitude does not affect the wave speed. The wave speed in a given medium is determined by the medium's properties such as its density and elasticity, not by the amplitude of the wave. The amplitude of a wave relates to its energy but not its speed. As such, the correct answer to the student's question would be (b) The amplitude of a wave is independent of its speed.
Wavelength and frequency are the aspects of a wave that affect its speed, and these properties are interconnected through the wave equation v = fλ, where v is the speed, f is the frequency, and λ (lambda) is the wavelength. An increase in frequency with the speed of the wave remaining constant results in a decrease in wavelength, and vice versa.