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Difference between revisions of "Wave Speed"

(Example Calculations)
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===Example Calculations===
 
===Example Calculations===
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====Finding Wave Speed from Wavelength and Frequency====
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |Question
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |A [[Water Wave|water wave]] has a [[wavelength]] of 1.6m and a frequency of 1.5Hz. Calculate the [[speed]] of the [[wave]].
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |A ray of [[ultravoilet]] [[light]] with a [[frequency]] of 7.5x10<sup>14</sup>Hz and [[wavelength]] of 0.30μm in an [[Optical Fibre|optical fibre]]. Calculate the [[speed]] of the [[wave]] through that [[Optical Fibre|optical fibre]] correct to 2 [[Significant Figures|significant figures]].
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|-
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. State the known quantities'''
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f = 1.5Hz
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λ = 1.6m
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. State the known quantities'''
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f = 7.5x10<sup>14</sup>Hz
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λ = 0.30μm = 0.30x10<sup>-6</sup>m
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|-
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
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<math>v = f \lambda</math>
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<math>v = 1.5 \times 1.6</math>
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<math>v = 2.4m/s</math>
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
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<math>v = f \lambda</math>
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<math>v = 7.5 \times 10^14 \times 0.30 \times 10^{-6}</math>
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<math>v = 225000000m/s</math>
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<math>v \approx 2.3 \times 10^8 m/s</math>
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|}
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====Finding Wave Speed from Distance Travelled and Time Taken====
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{| class="wikitable"
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |A scientist [[observe]]s a [[wave]] in a ripple tank. The length of the tank is 0.75m and it takes the [[wave]] 1.2 seconds to get from one end of the tank to the other. Calculate the '''wave speed''' of the [[wave]] correct to two [[Significant Figures|significant figures]].
 
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |Question
 
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |Question
 
|-
 
|-
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| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
 
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
 
|}
 
|}
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====

Revision as of 15:56, 18 February 2019

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Wave Speed is how quickly a wave travels through a medium.

About Wave Speed

Wave Speed is measured in metres per second.
The wave speed states how quickly energy and information can be transferred by a wave.

Equation

Equation 1

\(v = \frac{x}{t}\)

Where:

v = Wave Speed

x = distance traveled

t = time taken to travel

Equation 2

\(v = f \lambda\)

\(v = f \times \lambda\)

Where:

v = Wave Speed

f = frequency of the wave

λ = wavelength of the wave

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Wave Speed is how quickly a wave travels through a medium.

About Wave Speed

Wave speed is a scalar because it has magnitude only.
The SI Unit of wave speed is metres per second.
The wave speed states how quickly energy and information can be transferred by a wave.

Equation

Equation 1

\[v = \frac{x}{t}\]

Where:

v = Wave Speed

x = distance traveled

t = time taken to travel

Equation 2

\(v = f \lambda\)

Where:

v = Wave Speed

f = frequency of the wave

λ = wavelength of the wave

Example Calculations

Finding Wave Speed from Wavelength and Frequency

A water wave has a wavelength of 1.6m and a frequency of 1.5Hz. Calculate the speed of the wave. A ray of ultravoilet light with a frequency of 7.5x1014Hz and wavelength of 0.30μm in an optical fibre. Calculate the speed of the wave through that optical fibre correct to 2 significant figures.
1. State the known quantities

f = 1.5Hz

λ = 1.6m

1. State the known quantities

f = 7.5x1014Hz

λ = 0.30μm = 0.30x10-6m

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\(v = f \lambda\)

\(v = 1.5 \times 1.6\)

\(v = 2.4m/s\)

2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

\(v = f \lambda\)

\(v = 7.5 \times 10^14 \times 0.30 \times 10^{-6}\)

\(v = 225000000m/s\)

\(v \approx 2.3 \times 10^8 m/s\)

Finding Wave Speed from Distance Travelled and Time Taken

A scientist observes a wave in a ripple tank. The length of the tank is 0.75m and it takes the wave 1.2 seconds to get from one end of the tank to the other. Calculate the wave speed of the wave correct to two significant figures. Question
1. State the known quantities 1. State the known quantities
2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve. 2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

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