Question

Using the information from Paul Hewitt's Conceptual Development Practice Page 25-1 and the image below, answer the following question.Image of a wave with two rulers, one vertical and one horizontal, measuring the wave is shown. The wave's first crest aligns from 0 to just less than 4 centimeters on the horizontal ruler and rises from the equilibrium located at 5 centimeters to just before 3 centimeters. The wave's first trough aligns continues to just less than 8 centimeters on the horizontal ruler and goes down from the equilibrium located at 5 centimeters to just before 7 centimeters.What was the measurement of the wavelength and amplitude respectively?

Answer 1

Answer:

A = 2 cm ,   λ = 8 cm

Explanation:

The amplitude of a wave is the maximum height it has, in this case the height is measured by the vertical ruler,

We are told the balance point is in the reading of 5 cm, that the maximum reading is 3 cm and the Minimum reading is 7 cm. Therefore, the distance from the ends of the ridge to the point of equilibrium is

          d = 7-5 = 2 cm

          d = 5-3 = 2 cm

          A = 2 cm

The wavelength is the minimum horizontal distance for which the wave is repeated, that is measured by the horizontal ruler.

The initial reading for 4 cm and the final reading for 8 cm, this distance corresponds to a crest of the wave, the complete wave is formed by two crests whereby the wavelength is twice this value

          Δx = 8-4 = 4 cm

          λ = 2 Δx

          λ = 8 cm