Waves are all around us, from sound waves to light waves! Understanding how to calculate their properties is super important in physics. The key properties we'll focus on are wavelength (the distance between two wave crests or troughs), frequency (how many wave crests pass a point per second), and speed (how fast the wave is moving). The relationship between these is given by the formula: wave speed = wavelength × frequency. Let's use this to solve some practice problems!
Match the terms with their correct definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Wavelength | a. The number of waves passing a point per second. |
| 2. Frequency | b. The highest point of a wave. |
| 3. Amplitude | c. The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs. |
| 4. Crest | d. The maximum displacement from the resting position. |
| 5. Trough | e. The lowest point of a wave. |
(Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b, 5-e)
A wave's speed is determined by its __________ and its __________. If a wave has a high __________, it means many waves pass a point each second. The distance between two wave crests is called the __________. The maximum displacement of a wave from its resting position is called the __________.
(Answers: wavelength, frequency, frequency, wavelength, amplitude)
A sound wave has a frequency of $440 \text{ Hz}$ and a wavelength of $0.75 \text{ m}$. Calculate the speed of the sound wave using the formula $v = f\lambda$, where $v$ is the speed, $f$ is the frequency, and $\lambda$ is the wavelength.
(Answer: $v = 440 \text{ Hz} \times 0.75 \text{ m} = 330 \text{ m/s}$)
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