Understanding the Effects of Frequency on Wave Speed

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and wave speed, particularly focusing on how changes in frequency affect these parameters in a given medium.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the fundamental relationship of speed, wavelength, and frequency, questioning how changes in frequency influence wavelength and speed. Some participants suggest considering the properties of the medium and the nature of the source when discussing these effects.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concepts, with some offering clarifications about the constancy of wave speed in a medium and the implications of varying frequency. There is an ongoing exploration of whether speed always decreases with decreasing frequency, indicating a productive dialogue without explicit consensus.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of treating wave speed as constant for theoretical considerations, and participants are also discussing the constraints of real-world scenarios where wavelength may not remain constant.

MZET
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Since speed = wavelength x frequency, I'd like to know what are the effects of increasing/decreasing the frequency? I know this sounds like a really basic question but I just can't understand it!
 
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Hi MZET, welcome to PF.
The relation " Since speed = wavelength x frequency" is true for a given medium.
Frequency depends on the nature of the source. Speed and hence the wavelength depends on the nature of the medium.
So for a given medium, as frequency increases, wavelength decreases.
 
The speed of the wave is based on the properties of matter it travels through. I would recommend treating it as constant for a while.
Let's have a theoretical wave with frequency of 1Hz and traveling at 1m/s. What it's wavelength. Now what happens if you double or half the frequency?

If you understood that, you can send you wave through another matters where it travels with say 2 m/s or 0.5 m/s.

If all above done, start traveling yourself. Go 0.5 m/s against and with the 1 m/s wave. How often will you encounter the same phase (e.g. top) of the wave? This is Doppler effect.
 
Thanks for the answers guys! So does speed always decrease when frequency decreases?
 
MZET said:
Thanks for the answers guys! So does speed always decrease when frequency decreases?

:)

If you keep wavelength constant, which is about the only value you cannot in real world.
 

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