How Do Wave Interference and Velocity Relate in Real-Life Scenarios?

[thatoneguy6531]

Homework Statement

A beach comber walking along the top of a sea wall notices that the waves reflecting off of the concrete breaker are creating a pattern of interference with the original incoming waves. A few meters from the breaker the waves are at maximum oscillation with a time between peak and trough of 2.4 seconds. Exactly 3.2m further to sea, there is virtually no vertical change in the water's motion. What is the length and velocity of the waves?

Homework Equations

v=fxlamda

The Attempt at a Solution

So I'm not sure if I'm completely misinterpreting this but I'm thinking it forms a standing wave pattern and the first node is 3.2m away from the antinode so 3.2m x 4 = a wavelength of 12.8m and then v=(4.)(12.8m)(1/4.8)= 2.7m/s
Did I do it right or am I completely off?

 

[Simon Bridge]

That sounds reasonable to me.

The distance between max and min is 3.2m ... separation of consecutive maxima is 6.4m.
Which would represent a path difference of a single wavelength.

 

[thatoneguy6531]

Oh wait. 2.4 s is the period not the frequency.

 

[Simon Bridge]

That makes a difference yes ;)
You only need to relate the period of the standing wave oscillations to the speed and wavelength of the two traveling waves that make it.

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

Your attempt at a solution is correct. The length of the waves can be determined by doubling the distance between the first node and the antinode, as you have done, and the velocity of the waves can be calculated using the equation v=fxlambda. However, it should be noted that the units for velocity should be m/s, not just m. Additionally, it would be helpful to include the units for the wavelength, which in this case would be meters. Overall, your solution and approach are correct.