Final answer:
Wave celerity, or wave speed, for sound waves, depends on the medium's properties, specifically the square root of the bulk modulus to the fluid's density ratio. Electromagnetic wave celerity, such as light, is constant in a vacuum but can be affected by the medium's refractive index. The frequency and wavelength of a wave are tied to its speed, although amplitude is independent of celerity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wave celerity, or the speed of a wave, is a function of the medium through which the wave is traveling. For mechanical waves, like sound waves, the wave celerity depends on the elastic and inertial properties of the medium. Specifically, for sound waves in a fluid, the wave speed (vw) is equal to the square root of the ratio of the bulk modulus of the fluid to the density of the fluid.
In contrast, for electromagnetic waves like visible light, the wave celerity is not dependent on the medium but is a constant—the speed of light in a vacuum, denoted as c, which is approximately 3 x 108 meters per second. However, when light travels through a medium such as water or glass, its speed is affected by the refractive index of the medium.
The frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) of a wave are also related to wave velocity, as expressed by the equation c = fλ. It's important to note that the amplitude of the wave is independent of its celerity and instead depends on the energy content of the wave.