Wave Speed & Distance: Solving Wave Problems

In summary, the speed of the water wave is 2.93m/s. The time required for the wave to travel 100m is 34.13s and the distance traveled by the wave in 1 minute is 175.8m.
  • #1
Sace Ver
79
2

Homework Statement


The wavelength of a water wave is 4.4m and it's period is 1.5s.
(a) what is the speed of the wave.
(b) the time required for the wave to travel 100m.
(c) the distance traveled by the wave in 1min.

Homework Equations


v=λ/T

The Attempt at a Solution


(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4m x 1.5s
v= 6.6m/s

Not sure how to complete questions (a) and (b).
 
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  • #2
Sace Ver said:

Homework Statement


The wavelength of a water wave is 4.4m and it's period is 1.5s.
(a) what is the speed of the wave.
(b) the time required for the wave to travel 100m.
(c) the distance traveled by the wave in 1min.

Homework Equations


v=λ/T

The Attempt at a Solution


(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4m x 1.5s
v= 6.6m/s

Not sure how to complete questions (a) and (b).
The equation says to divide, but you multiplied.

Use the units to check your calculations. velocity is in m/s, wavelength is in m, and the period is in units of seconds. The units have to work out, or you have made a math error (like multiplying instead of dividing)... :smile:
 
  • #3
berkeman said:
The equation says to divide, but you multiplied.

Use the units to check your calculations. velocity is in m/s, wavelength is in m, and the period is in units of seconds. The units have to work out, or you have made a math error (like multiplying instead of dividing)... :smile:
Oops will fix right now.
 
  • #4
berkeman said:
The equation says to divide, but you multiplied.

Use the units to check your calculations. velocity is in m/s, wavelength is in m, and the period is in units of seconds. The units have to work out, or you have made a math error (like multiplying instead of dividing)... :smile:

Okay I got 2.93m/s. What I me
Sace Ver said:

Homework Statement


The wavelength of a water wave is 4.4m and it's period is 1.5s.
(a) what is the speed of the wave.
(b) the time required for the wave to travel 100m.
(c) the distance traveled by the wave in 1min.

Homework Equations


v=λ/T

The Attempt at a Solution


(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4m x 1.5s
v= 6.6m/s

Not sure how to complete questions (a) and (b).

I meant to say not sure how to solve (b) and (c).
 
  • #5
Sace Ver said:
I meant to say not sure how to solve (b) and (c).
You just need the equation relating distance, speed and time. Use units to help you figure out the equation. What are the units of distance, speed and time? What equations can you write with those quantities so that the units are the same on both sides of the = sign?
 
  • #6
Sace Ver said:

Homework Statement


The wavelength of a water wave is 4.4m and it's period is 1.5s.
(a) what is the speed of the wave.
(b) the time required for the wave to travel 100m.
(c) the distance traveled by the wave in 1min.

Homework Equations


v=λ/T

The Attempt at a Solution


(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4m x 1.5s
v= 6.6m/s

Not sure how to complete questions (a) and (b).

If I'm walking down a road at 2 m/s, how long does it take me to walk 100 m? How far do I walk in 1 minute?
 
  • #7
berkeman said:
You just need the equation relating distance, speed and time. Use units to help you figure out the equation. What are the units of distance, speed and time? What equations can you write with those quantities so that the units are the same on both sides of the = sign?
Not sure if I did this correctly.

(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4/1.5
v= 2.93m/s

(b)t=d/v
t= 100m/2.93m/s
t= 34.13s

(c) d=vt
d= (2.93m/s)(60s)
d= 175.8m

Did I do it correctly?
 
  • #8
Sace Ver said:
Not sure if I did this correctly.

(a) v=λ/T
v= 4.4/1.5
v= 2.93m/s

(b)t=d/v
t= 100m/2.93m/s
t= 34.13s

(c) d=vt
d= (2.93m/s)(60s)
d= 175.8m

Did I do it correctly?
Looks good to me. See how carrying units along in the equations helps to keep things straight? :smile:
 
  • #9
berkeman said:
Looks good to me. See how carrying units along in the equations helps to keep things straight? :smile:
Yess thanks for the help
 
  • Like
Likes berkeman

Related to Wave Speed & Distance: Solving Wave Problems

What is the formula for calculating wave speed?

The formula for calculating wave speed is v = λf, where v is the wave speed, λ is the wavelength, and f is the frequency.

How do you calculate the distance traveled by a wave?

To calculate the distance traveled by a wave, you can use the formula d = v*t, where d is the distance, v is the wave speed, and t is the time. Alternatively, you can use the formula d = λ*n, where d is the distance, λ is the wavelength, and n is the number of cycles.

What is the relationship between wave speed and wavelength?

The relationship between wave speed and wavelength is inverse. This means that as the wavelength increases, the wave speed decreases, and vice versa. This relationship is described by the formula v = fλ, where v is the wave speed, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength.

How do you convert between different units of wave speed?

To convert between different units of wave speed, you can use the fact that 1 m/s is equivalent to 100 cm/s. For example, if you have a wave speed of 10 m/s and want to convert it to cm/s, you would multiply 10 by 100 to get 1000 cm/s. If you have a wave speed of 500 cm/s and want to convert it to m/s, you would divide 500 by 100 to get 5 m/s.

What are some real-world applications of wave speed and distance?

There are many real-world applications of wave speed and distance, such as in telecommunications, where the speed and distance of electromagnetic waves are important for transmitting information. They are also important in seismology, as the speed and distance of seismic waves can provide valuable information about the Earth's structure. In addition, understanding wave speed and distance is crucial in fields like acoustics, optics, and oceanography.

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