Question

A surfer paddles to where the waves are sinusoidal with crests 14 m apart. He bobs a vertical distance 3.6 m from trough to crest, which takes 1.5 s. Find the wave speed, & describe the wave.

Answer 1

v = 9.34 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

The distance between crests,
`\lambda=14\ m`

The vertical distance from trough to crest = 3.6 m

Time taken, t = 1.5 s

The amplitude of wave = vertical distance from trough to crest /2

= 3.6/2

= 1.8 m

The speed of the wave is given by :

`v=f* \lambda\\\\=(\lambda)/(T)\\\\=(14)/(1.5)\\\\=9.34\ m/s`

So, the speed of the wave is 9.34 m/s.