Question

A fisherman notices that his boat is moving up and

down periodically due to waves on the water. It takes a time

of t = 2.8 s for the boat to travel from its highest point to its

lowest, a total distance of d = 0.68m. The fisherman sees that

the wave crests are spaced a horizontal distance of L = 6.10m

apart. What is the velocity of the wave?

Answer 1

Solution)

Time taken by wave to travel from highest point to lowest = 2.8 sec.
This equals half of one wavelength.
Therefore, time for one whole wavelength = 5.60 sec.

The wave crests are spaced 6.80 m. apart.
This equals the distance from one peak to the next peak of the waves.
By definition, this is one whole wavelength.
Hence, one wavelength = 6.80 m.

Now, the speed of the wave = distance / time, we have speed = 6.80 m/ 5.60 sec.
Velocity, v =1.214 m / sec.; the speed of the wave in a horizontal direction. (Ans)

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Good luck!:)