Question

Two sinusoidal waves with identical wavelengths and amplitudes travel in opposite directions along a string with a speed of 10 cm/s. If the time interval between instants when the string is flat is 0.50 s, what is the wavelength of the waves?

Answer 1

Answer:

The wave length of the string = 10 cm or 0.1 m

Explanation:

Wave: A wave can be defined as a disturbance, which travels through a medium and transfer energy from one point to another, without causing any permanent displacement of the medium itself.

 The velocity, frequency and wavelength of a wave is related as shown,

v = λf ........................ Equation 1

Where v = velocity of the wave, λ = wave length, f = frequency.

λ = v/f ..................... Equation 2.

Given: v = 10 cm/s,

T = 2t, where t = 0.5 s, (This is half of one cycle)  

T = 2×0.5 = 1 s,

But T = 1/f = 1/1 = 1 Hz.

Substituting these values into equation 2

λ  = 10(1)

λ  = 10 cm. or 0.1 m

Thus the wave length of the waves = 10 cm or 0.1 m