A wave traveling in the positive x-direction with a frequency of 50.0 Hz is shown in the figure below. Find the following values for this wave: a. amplitude b. wavelength c. period d. speed

Explanation:

a. The amplitude is the measure of the height of the wave from the midline to the top of the wave or the midline to the bottom of the wave (called crests). The midline then divides the whole height in half. Thus, the amplitude of this wave is 9.0 cm.

b. Wavelength is measured from the highest point of one wave to the highest point of the next wave (or from the lowest point of one wave to the lowest point of the next wave, since they are the same). The wavelength of this wave then is 20.0 cm. or

c. The period, or T, of a wave is found in the equation

were f is the frequency of the wave. We were given the frequency, so we plug that in and solve for T:

so

and

T = .0200 seconds to the correct number of sig fig's (50.0 has 3 sig fig's in it)

d. The speed of the wave is found in the equation

and since we already have the frequency and we solved for the wavelength already, filling in:

and

v = 50.0(20.0) so

v = 1.00 × 10³ m/s

And there you go!