Final answer:
To find the number of crests in a light wave with a frequency of 1.0×1014 s−1, we multiply the frequency by the time light takes to travel the given distance from the sun to Earth, resulting in 5.0×1016 crests.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the number of crests in a light wave from the sun to Earth with a given frequency, we first need the speed of light which is approximately 299,792 km/s (rounded to 299,338 km/s as provided in your reference text). The distance from Earth to the sun is given as about 1.5×108km, and the frequency of the light wave is 1.0×1014 s−1.
First, we find the time it takes for light to travel this distance:
Time = Distance / Speed of light
Time = (1.5×108 km) / (299,338 km/s) = 500 seconds
Next, to find the number of crests, which is equivalent to the number of cycles or waves that pass a point in a given period, we use the frequency:
Number of crests = Frequency × Time = (1.0×1014 s−1) × (500 s) = 5.0×1016
Therefore, the number of crests in a light wave traveling from the sun to Earth with the given frequency is 5.0×1016 crests.