Final answer:
The wave speed in the equation y = Asin(wt - kx) is determined by the angular frequency (w) and the wave number (k), combined in the formula v = w/k.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of a wave in the equation y = Asin(wt - kx) is not represented by the amplitude (A), nor by the wave function itself (Asin(wt - kx)). Instead, the speed of the wave is determined by the wave number (k) and the angular frequency (w). To find the velocity (v) of the wave, we use the relationship v = λf, where λ is the wavelength and f is the frequency. The wave number k = 2π/λ, and the angular frequency w = 2πf. Therefore, by combining these expressions, the wave velocity can be found using the formula v = w/k. So, the correct answer is B. (w), which represents the angular frequency but corresponds to the wave speed when combined with the wave number.