Final answer:
The air particle vibrations in a longitudinal wave are parallel to the wave's direction. Using the provided frequency (400 Hz) and wavelength (0.85 m), the speed of the sound wave is calculated to be 340 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vibrations of the air particles in a longitudinal wave are parallel to the direction of energy transfer. When discussing sound waves, which are an example of longitudinal waves, the air particles vibrate in the same direction that the sound is traveling.
For the calculation of the speed of sound based on the frequency and wavelength given, we can use the formula v = f × λ, where v is the speed, f is the frequency, and λ (lambda) is the wavelength. Given a frequency (f) of 400 Hz and a wavelength (λ) of 0.85 m, the speed (v) of the sound wave can be calculated as follows: v = 400 Hz × 0.85 m = 340 m/s. Therefore, the speed of sound in this case is 340 meters per second.