What is the speed of water waves if they travel 4 meters in 2 seconds?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the speed of water waves generated when a stone is dropped into a pond, specifically addressing how to calculate the speed given a distance of 4 meters traveled in 2 seconds. The subject area includes wave motion and basic principles of frequency and speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between frequency and wave speed, with some attempting to apply frequency calculations to the problem of wave speed. Questions arise about the correct method to determine the speed of the waves, with one participant suggesting a calculation based on halving the distance.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some guidance provided regarding the definitions of frequency and speed. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the application of frequency to the wave speed question, and while some participants express uncertainty, others seem to be moving towards a clearer understanding.

Contextual Notes

Participants note a lack of prior instruction on calculating wave speed, which contributes to their confusion. The original poster expresses a desire for help and clarification on the concepts involved.

iamamn
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Right, I am new here and i am really stuck on my homework.
Wandering if you could help me :D lol
anyways,


a loudspeaker vibrates at a frequency of 256 herts to produce a note we call middle c.
(a) how many waves does it produce in one second
(b) how many waves does it produce in 1 minute.?

and also ...

when a stone is dropped into a pond the watr waves spread out and travel a distance of 4 meters in 2 seconds. what is the speed of these waves?

i know they might be simple to you, but i haven't been taught how to do these ...
I got taught how to find out freqency and period, but i just can't figure out how to do these

YOUR HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED :D
xo
 
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iamamn said:
Right, I am new here and i am really stuck on my homework.
Wandering if you could help me :D lol
anyways,


a loudspeaker vibrates at a frequency of 256 herts to produce a note we call middle c.
(a) how many waves does it produce in one second
(b) how many waves does it produce in 1 minute.?

and also ...

when a stone is dropped into a pond the watr waves spread out and travel a distance of 4 meters in 2 seconds. what is the speed of these waves?

i know they might be simple to you, but i haven't been taught how to do these ...
I got taught how to find out freqency and period, but i just can't figure out how to do these

YOUR HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED :D
xo

Welcome to PF iamamn,

Firstly, please don't write in large bold font, it makes your post difficult to read. Secondly, we have Homework Forums for dedicated homework assistance (but don't worry, a mentor will move it there shortly). And thirdly, when requesting homework help you are expected to show an attempted solution or at least outline your thoughts on the problem.

However, since you're new we'll let you off :wink:.

Can you tell me the definition of frequency, or more specifically one Hertz?
 
OK. :D
Well the examples we got in school were:

if a wave has a frwency of 50Hz - whatt's its period?
and i came up with:

T = ?
F = 50hz
T=1/F
T = 1/50 = 0.02s

and if a wave has a period of 5z - what's its frquency?

F = ?
T = 5s
F = 1/T
F = 1/5 = 0.20 Hz


and frequency is the number of waves produced per second by the wave source. and measured in seconds.

I just can't figure it ot really ...

buut for the loudspeaker one is it 256hz for 1 second? and then for (b) times it by 60?
 
iamamn said:
and frequency is the number of waves produced per second by the wave source. and measured in seconds.

I just can't figure it ot really ...

buut for the loudspeaker one is it 256hz for 1 second? and then for (b) times it by 60?
Correct. The frequency is simply the number of oscillations (or waves produced) per unit time. So a wave-source oscillating at 256 Hertz produces 256 waves per second. And of course one simply multiplies this number by 60 to obtain the number of waves per minute.
 
AH! So simple really. i can't believe i couldn't get that :D.

So for the other question,

when the stone is dropped ...

Do i use the frequency solution to find that out? but if i do it doesn't really work out if its asking for speed of the waves.

would the anwser be 2 meters per second? by simply just "halfing" it? to get the number of waves per second?
 
iamamn said:
AH! So simple really. i can't believe i couldn't get that :D.

So for the other question,

when the stone is dropped ...

Do i use the frequency solution to find that out? but if i do it doesn't really work out if its asking for speed of the waves.

would the anwser be 2 meters per second? by simply just "halfing" it? to get the number of waves per second?
No, for the next question you don't use the frequency method, but the solution is just as simple. Think about the definition of speed.
 
Would the anwser be 2 m/s ?

:S
 
iamamn said:
Would the anwser be 2 m/s ?

:S
Indeed it would :approve:
 
Well thank you very much Hootenanny :D
You have been a very big help to my homework and my knowledge :D
THANK YOU xo
 
  • #10
iamamn said:
Well thank you very much Hootenanny :D
You have been a very big help to my homework and my knowledge :D
THANK YOU xo
It was a pleasure.
 

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