Question

a water wave vibrates up and down four times each second, the distance between two successive crests is 5 m, and the height from the lowest part to the highest part of the wave is to m.
a. what is the frequency of the wave in hertz?
b. what is the period of the wave in seconds?
c. what is the speed of the wave in meters per second?
d. what is the amplitude of the wave in meters?

Answer 1

a. Frequency = number of waves each second

When the water wave vibrates up and down one time it generates one wave, so, number of waves generated each second = 4

Therefore, frequency = 4 Hertz

b. Time period = 1/frequency = 1/4 = 0.25 second

c. Distance between two successive

crests = wavelength = 5 m

Now, speed of wave = frequency × wavelength

= (4 × 5) m/sec = 20 m/sec

d. Amplitude = Distance from highest point to mean level = Distance from highest to lowest point/2

So, amplitude = 2/2 = 1 m