Physics Question please HELP

Question

While relaxing at a wave pool after a physics test, you notice the wave machine making 12 waves in 40 s and the wave crests are 3.6 metres apart.

a) Determine the velocity that the waves must be traveling.

 

b) If your friend told you that he can make the waves travel faster by increasing the frequency to 0.5 waves per second would you agree? Explain. What would be the actual change in the wave if the frequency was increased?

Answer 1

(a) velocity = wavelength x frequency; frequency = 12 cycles per 40 seconds = 12/40 cycles per second (Hz) = 0.3 Hz; wavelength = distance between consecutive crests = 3.6 m Therefore velocity = wavelength x frequency = (3.6)(0.3) m/s = 1.08 m/s (b) Yes. If the wave crests are still 3.6 m apart, then: velocity = wavelength x frequency = (3.6)(0.5) m/s = 1.8 m/s; Hence, the wave velocity increased by (1.8-1.08) m/s = 0.72 m/s