To calculate the frequency of a wave, you need to know the speed at which the wave is traveling. Using the wave speed formula (v = f × λ), and knowing the wave speed and wavelength, you can determine the frequency. For example, ocean ripples with a wavelength of 5 cm traveling at 2 m/s have a frequency of 40 Hz.
To calculate the frequency of a wave, you can use the formula for wave speed: v = f × λ, where v is the wave speed, f is the frequency, and λ (lambda) is the wavelength. However, the provided wavelength of a wave (2.60 x 10-7m) cannot be used to directly find the frequency without knowing the wave speed, since it's an essential part of the equation.
Take, for example, the case of wind gusts creating ripples on the ocean with a wavelength of 5.00 cm (or 0.05 m) that propagate at a wave speed of 2.00 m/s. The frequency can be found by rearranging the wave speed formula to f = v / λ. Substituting the given numbers, we have f = 2.00 m/s / 0.05 m = 40 Hz. Therefore, the frequency of the ripples is 40 Hz.