Question

A gust of wind creates ripples on the ocean that have a wavelength of 4.7 cm and propagate at a speed of 6.5 cm/s. What is the frequency of these ocean waves?

a. 31 Hz
b. 11.2 Hz
c. 1.0 Hz
d. 0.72 Hz
e. 1.4 Hz

Answer 1

The frequency of ocean waves with a wavelength of 4.7 cm and a speed of 6.5 cm/s is found by dividing the speed by the wavelength, which gives us approximately 1.38 Hz. This value is rounded to 1.4 Hz, making option e the correct choice.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the frequency of ocean waves created by a gust of wind with a given wavelength and propagation speed, we can use the relationship between speed, frequency, and wavelength given by the formula:

v = f × λ

Where:

• v is the propagation speed (6.5 cm/s)
• f is the frequency we need to find
• λ (lambda) is the wavelength (4.7 cm)

Rearrange the formula to solve for frequency (f).

f = v / λ

Now plug in the values:

f = 6.5 cm/s / 4.7 cm

Frequency f is approximately 1.38 Hz, which we round to 1.4 Hz for one of the multiple-choice options.

Thus, the correct option is e. 1.4 Hz.