Question

While sitting on a dock of the bay, you notice a series of waves going past. You observe that 11 waves go past you in 45 s and that the distance from one crest to the next trough is 3.0 m.

Part A
Find the period of these waves.
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.
Part B
Find the frequency of these waves.
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.
Part C
Find the wavelength of these waves.
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.
Part D
Find the speed of these waves.
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

a) period= 4.1s b) frequency = 0.24Hz c) wavelength = 6.0m d) speed = 1.5m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Period is the time taken by wave to complete a cycle. Since 11 complete oscillation was made in 45seconds, a complete complete oscillation was made in 45/11 seconds which is 4.09seconds.

Period of the wave is 4.1s to 2sf

b) frequency is the reciprocal of the period i.e f = 1/T

Since period (T) = 4.09s

f = 1/4.09

f = 0.24Hz to 2sf

c) Wavelength is the distance between two successive crests or trough of a wave.

From the question, we are given distance from one crest to the next trough which is 3.0 m. Distance from that trough to the next crest will be 3.0 m.

Therefore the distance between the successive crests will be 3.0m+3.0m = 6.0m

Therefore the wavelength of the wave is 6.0m.

d) The speed of the wave (v) is the product of its frequency and wavelength.

Speed = frequency×wavelength

Speed = 0.244×6

Speed = 1.5m/s to 2sf