Calculating Wave Properties

A periodic wave has a frequency of 2 Hz and a speed of 6 m/s. What is the wave's wavelength?

• 3 m

• 12 m

• 0.5 m

• 6 m

Answer explanation

Use speed=frequency x wavelength to solve for wavelength.

A transverse wave travels with a period of 4 s. What is it's frequency?

• 0.25 Hz

• 4 Hz

• 8 m

• 12 Hz

Answer explanation

Use the equation: frequency=1/period to solve for frequency.

An ocean wave has a wavelength of 8 m and a frequency of 25 Hz. What is the wave's speed?

• 200 m/s

• 3.1 m/s

• 100 m/s

• 4 m/s

Answer explanation

Use the equation: speed=frequency x wavelength to solve for speed.

A periodic wave with a frequency of 20 Hz has a wavelength of 580 m, what is the speed of the wave?

• 11,600 m/s

• 29 m/s

• 0.116 m/s

• 120 m/s

Answer explanation

Use the equation: speed=frequency x wavelength to solve for speed.

Reena draws a periodic wave with a frequency of 0.11 Hz and a speed of 6 m/s. What is the wavelength?

• 54.54 m

• 0.66 m

• 0.17 m

• 9.09 m

Answer explanation

Use the equation: speed=frequency x wavelength to solve for wavelength.

A wave takes 9 seconds to complete one oscillation. What is the frequency of the wave?

• 0.11 Hz

• 9 Hz

• 3 Hz

• 0.33 Hz

Answer explanation

When the problem says it "takes 9 seconds to complete one oscillation," it means that its period is 9 seconds, so T=9 s. Then, use the equation f=1/period to solve for frequency.

A periodic wave with wavelength of 0.2 m has a speed of 10 m/s. What is the period of the wave?

• 0.02 s

• 0.1 s

• 20 s

• 50 s

Answer explanation

Use the equation: speed=wavelength/period to solve for period.

COULD ALSO use speed=frequency x wavelength to solve for frequency, then period=1/frequency to solve for period.

If the period of a wave is 1 s, what is the wave's frequency?

• 1 Hz

• 10 Hz

• 2 Hz

• 4.5 Hz

Answer explanation

Use the equation: frequency=1/period to solve for frequency

What is the frequency of a wave with a period of 2 s?

• 0.5 Hz

• 4 Hz

• 20 Hz

• 10 Hz

Answer explanation

Use the equation: frequency=1/period to solve for frequency

What is the amplitude of the wave shown on the graph in the image?

• 3 m

• 6 m

• 12 m

• 4 m

Answer explanation

The amplitude of a wave is its maximum displacement from its equilibrium point, or the height of a wave. In the graph, the height of the wave is 3 m, so its amplitude is 3 m.