What happens to wavelength in a ripple tank when frequency is doubled?

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SUMMARY

When the frequency of a water wave in a ripple tank is doubled, the wavelength is halved, provided the depth of water remains constant. The speed of water waves in shallow water is determined solely by the depth and gravitational acceleration. The relationship between wave speed (v), frequency (freq), and wavelength (λ) is expressed as v = freq x λ. In shallow water, this relationship simplifies to v = √(gd), confirming that doubling the frequency results in halving the wavelength.

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If the frequency of a water wave is doubled in a ripple tank, is the wavelength halved? The depth of water is kept constant.
 
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Yes. In shallow water, the speed of the water waves is dependent only on the depth (and the gravitational acceleration g).

The general expression for the speed of a water wave is given by:
v = \sqrt{\frac{g\lambda}{2\pi}\,tanh(2\pi\frac{d}{\lambda}})

which simplifies in the shallow depth limit into
v = \sqrt{gd}
 
so,
v=freq x wavelength

Thus double the frequency the wavelength is halved in shallow water.
 

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