Final answer:
The characteristic measured in feet per second is wave velocity, not provided in the question options. Amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and phase are measured in other units such as meters, hertz, or radians.
Step-by-step explanation:
The waveform characteristic that is measured in feet per second is the wave velocity, which describes the speed at which a wave travels through a medium. This is not one of the options provided in the question, as none of amplitude, frequency, wavelength, or phase are typically measured in feet per second. However, wave velocity, which can relate to wavelength when multiplied by frequency, does have units of distance per time (like feet per second).
Here are the definitions of the given wave characteristics:
- Amplitude is the distance between the resting position (or equilibrium) and the maximum displacement of the wave, which is measured in units of distance, such as meters or feet, but not with time.
- Frequency is the number of waves that pass by a specific point per second, and it is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Wavelength refers to the distance between two consecutive similar points, such as crests or troughs, on the wave, measured in units of distance like meters or feet.
- Phase refers to the position of a point in time on a waveform cycle, measured in degrees or radians, which tells us how the waveform is displaced concerning time or another waveform.
The wave velocity equation is: v = λf, where v is the velocity, λ is the wavelength, and f is the frequency. Thus, to find the wave velocity, you would multiply the wavelength by the frequency.