Finding the wavelength of this wave

[-Dragoon-]

Homework Statement

Okay, here is a photo of the wave I did on a graphing program: http://img221.imageshack.us/i/wavelengthsgraph.jpg/

Now the total distance the wave travels is 4.8 M. There are 3 crests and 3 troughs, but there is only 2 wavelengths throughout the wave. This confuses me.

Homework Equations

To finding the wavelength is it 4.8/2? Or 4.8 divided by 3?

The Attempt at a Solution

I tried 4.8/3, but I didn't feel to comfortable with the answer since the wavelengths do not seem to be 1.6 M long, so would it become 4.8/2=2.4M?

And how would I know how to determine the answer for future equations? Thanks in advance.

 

[fss]

There are only 3 complete cycles of that particular wave in 4.8 meters, so the wavelength is 4.8/3. Not sure what you mean by "there is only 2 wavelengths throughout the wave."

 

[-Dragoon-]

There are only 3 complete cycles of that particular wave in 4.8 meters, so the wavelength is 4.8/3. Not sure what you mean by "there is only 2 wavelengths throughout the wave."

So the wavelength is essentially the total distance/complete number of cycles?

 

[fss]

Yes, essentially.

 

[-Dragoon-]

Yes, essentially.

Wow, okay thanks for this. Solved most of the confusion I had over this.

 

[-Dragoon-]

Just one more question: If the frequency is changed, the velocity and wavelength remain the same, right?

 

[fss]

No...

c = f*lambda

c stays the same.