Properties of Waves - High School Physics
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A wave has a frequency of 
. What is its period?
A wave has a frequency of 
The relationship between frequency and period is 
.
Plug in our given value:
The relationship between frequency and period is 
Plug in our given value:
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After exercising, Jane takes her pulse. She realizes that her heart is beating rapidly, approximately four beats every second. What is the period of her elevated heart rate?
After exercising, Jane takes her pulse. She realizes that her heart is beating rapidly, approximately four beats every second. What is the period of her elevated heart rate?
When you see a relationship like "times every second" or "once per hour," these are hints you are looking at a frequency. Frequency is, effectively, how often something happens. If it happens four times per second, then we know how often it happens. The units "per second" are equivalent to Hertz.
The relationship between frequency and period is 
.
Since our given frequency was four beats per second, or 
, we can solve for the period.
This means that her heart beats once every 
seconds.
When you see a relationship like "times every second" or "once per hour," these are hints you are looking at a frequency. Frequency is, effectively, how often something happens. If it happens four times per second, then we know how often it happens. The units "per second" are equivalent to Hertz.
The relationship between frequency and period is 
Since our given frequency was four beats per second, or 
This means that her heart beats once every 
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A wave oscillates with a speed of 
and has a wavelength of 
. What is the frequency of the wave?
A wave oscillates with a speed of 
The equation for velocity in terms of wavelength and frequency is 
.
We are given the velocity and the wavelength. Using these values, we can solve for the frequency.
The equation for velocity in terms of wavelength and frequency is 
We are given the velocity and the wavelength. Using these values, we can solve for the frequency.
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What is the wavelength of the wave above?
What is the wavelength of the wave above?
The wavelength of a wave is defined as the distance from a point on the wave to the same point on the wave (crest to crest or trough to trough). The distance between peaks is 
.
The wavelength of a wave is defined as the distance from a point on the wave to the same point on the wave (crest to crest or trough to trough). The distance between peaks is 
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What is the amplitude of the wave above?
What is the amplitude of the wave above?
The amplitude of wave is defined as the distance the wave displaces from the equilibrium point. In this case, the wave displaces 
from the axis (the equilibrium point).
The amplitude of wave is defined as the distance the wave displaces from the equilibrium point. In this case, the wave displaces 
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A wave with a constant velocity doubles its frequency. What happens to its wavelength?
A wave with a constant velocity doubles its frequency. What happens to its wavelength?
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength is:
In this case we're given a scenario where 
and 
. The velocities equal each other because the problem states it has a constant velocity. Therefore we can set these equations equal to each other:
Notice that the f's cancel out:
Divide both sides by two:
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength is:
In this case we're given a scenario where 
Notice that the f's cancel out:
Divide both sides by two:
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Two notes are played simultaneously. One of them has a period of 
and the other has a period of 
. Which one has a longer wavelength?
Two notes are played simultaneously. One of them has a period of 
The relationship between frequency and wavelength determines the velocity:
The frequency is the inverse of the period. We can substitute this into the equation above.
In the question, both of the notes are played at the same time in the same location, so they both should have the same velocity. We can set the equation for each tone equal to each other.
We are told that 
. Substitute into our equation.
We can cancel the period from each side of the equation, leaving the relationship between the two wavelengths.
The wavelength of the first wave is equal to half the wavelength of the second. This means that the wavelength for the tone with a longer period will have a longer wavelength as well.
The relationship between frequency and wavelength determines the velocity:
The frequency is the inverse of the period. We can substitute this into the equation above.
In the question, both of the notes are played at the same time in the same location, so they both should have the same velocity. We can set the equation for each tone equal to each other.
We are told that 
We can cancel the period from each side of the equation, leaving the relationship between the two wavelengths.
The wavelength of the first wave is equal to half the wavelength of the second. This means that the wavelength for the tone with a longer period will have a longer wavelength as well.
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A student attaches one end of a Slinky to the top of a table. She holds the other end in her hand, stretches it to a length 
, and then moves it back and forth to send a wave down the Slinky. If she next moves her hand faster while keeping the length of the Slinky the same, how does the wavelength down the slinky change?
A student attaches one end of a Slinky to the top of a table. She holds the other end in her hand, stretches it to a length 
The speed of the wave along the Slinky depends on the mass of the Slinky itself and the tension caused by stretching it. Since both of these things have not changed, the wave speed remains constant.
The wave speed is equal to the wavelength multiplied by the frequency.
Since she is moving her hand faster, the frequency has increased. Since the velocity has not changed, an increase in the frequency would decrease the wavelength
The speed of the wave along the Slinky depends on the mass of the Slinky itself and the tension caused by stretching it. Since both of these things have not changed, the wave speed remains constant.
The wave speed is equal to the wavelength multiplied by the frequency.
Since she is moving her hand faster, the frequency has increased. Since the velocity has not changed, an increase in the frequency would decrease the wavelength
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Resonance in a system, such as a string fixed at both ends, occurs when
Resonance in a system, such as a string fixed at both ends, occurs when
The frequency at which standing waves are produced is known as the resonant frequencies. When two objects are brought near each other, and they both make standing waves at the same frequency, there is resonance in the system. For example, if you have two tuning forks of the same note, you can tap one and bring it close (but not touch) the other. Then if you silence the first tuning fork and listen, you will hear the second fork ringing as well because it vibrates at the same frequency.
The frequency at which standing waves are produced is known as the resonant frequencies. When two objects are brought near each other, and they both make standing waves at the same frequency, there is resonance in the system. For example, if you have two tuning forks of the same note, you can tap one and bring it close (but not touch) the other. Then if you silence the first tuning fork and listen, you will hear the second fork ringing as well because it vibrates at the same frequency.
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