Question

A person fishing from a pier observes that 6 wave crests pass by in 8.0 s and estimates the distance between two successive crests to be 4.8 m. The timing starts with the first wave crest and ends with the last. What is the speed of the wave?

Answer 1

Answer:

The speed of the wave is 3 m/s.

Explanation:

Given that,

Number of waves = 6

Time = 8.0 s

Successive crests $\lambda = 4.8\ m$

We need to calculate the frequency

Using formula of frequency

$f=\dfrac{Number\ of \ cycles}{t}$

Put the value into the formula

$f=\dfrac{6-1}{8.0}$

$f=0.625\ cycle/sec$

We need to calculate the speed of the wave

Using formula of speed

$v=\lambda\times f$

Put the value into the formula

$v=4.8\times0.625$

$v=3\ m/s$

Hence, The speed of the wave is 3 m/s.