Question

A person lying on an air mattress in the ocean rises and falls through one complete cycle every five seconds. The crests of the wave causing the motion are 20.0 mapart. Determine (a) the frequency and (b) the speed of the wave. (Cutnell 16.6)

Answer 1

Answer:

a) the frequency of the wave is 0.2 Hz

b) the speed of the wave 4 m/s

Explanation:

Given that;

time period = to complete one cycle t = 5 sec

frequency f = 1/t

frequency f = 1 / 5sec

f = 0.2 Hz

Therefore the frequency of the wave is 0.2 Hz

b)

speed of wave V = λf

given that our wavelength is 20.0 m

we substitute

speed of wave V = 20.0 × 0.2

speed of wave V = 4 m/s

Therefore, the speed of the wave 4 m/s