Waves: Can Speed & Frequency Be Changed?

[Nitric]

(a) Can the speed of the waves in the spring be changed?
I know it can't, but can someone explain why in a simple way?
(b) Can the frequency of a wave in the spring be changed?
I know it can, but again explanation

 

[mezarashi]

(a) The speed of waves in any medium is due to the properties of that medium. If if the property of the medium does not change, then you cannot change the speed of the wave. Same goes for sound in air.

(b) The frequency of any wave in any medium depends solely on the "creator" of that wave. For example you can choose to create high pitch or low pitch tones in air right? You cannot however, change the natural frequency of a configuration without changing the configuration itself.

 

[sir-pinski]

(a) No, the speed of waves in a spring cannot be changed. This is because the speed of a wave is determined by the properties of the medium it is traveling through. In the case of a spring, the speed of the wave is determined by the tension and density of the spring itself. These properties cannot be changed without physically altering the spring, thus the speed of the wave remains constant.

(b) Yes, the frequency of a wave in a spring can be changed. Frequency is the number of waves that pass a certain point in a given amount of time. In a spring, the frequency can be changed by altering the tension or length of the spring. This will affect the wavelength of the wave, which in turn will change the frequency. Additionally, if the source of the wave is moving, the frequency can also be changed due to the Doppler effect.