Physics
Physics
1st Edition
Walker
ISBN: 9780133256925
Textbook solutions

All Solutions

Page 474: Practice Problems

Exercise 36
Solution 1
Solution 2
Step 1
1 of 2
One period of a wave is the time taken by the wave from one crest to the next, or from one trough to the next. The distance traveled from one crest to the next, or from one trough to the next, is
the called wavelength.

Hence, in one time period the wave moves one of its wavelength.

Result
2 of 2
One of its wavelength.
Step 1
1 of 2
Wavelegth is defined as distance travelled by the wave in one time period, hence it is one waavelegth.
Result
2 of 2
See work here
Exercise 37
Step 1
1 of 3
### Theoretical reminder

We know that period $T$ is defined as the time required to complete one full cycle of a given motion.
The frequency $f$ is the number of oscillations per unit time.

They are related by the following formula:

$$
begin{equation}
f = frac{1}{T}
end{equation}
$$

We know that the wavelength and frequency determine the speed of a wave. They are related by the following formula:

$$
begin{equation}
v = lambda cdot f
end{equation}
$$

Step 2
2 of 3
section*{Calculation}
begin{enumerate}[a)]
item
Our wave oscillates $n = 4$ times a second so the frequency is found directly:
begin{align*}
f = frac{n}{t} = frac{4}{1text{ s}} = 4text{ Hz}
end{align*}
item
The period is found using formula (1) as follows:
begin{align*}
T = frac{1}{f} = frac{1}{4text{ Hz}} = 0.25text{ s}
end{align*}
item
Since we know the frequency from part a, and we know the wavelength to be equal $lambda = 3.0text{ m}$, the speed of the wave can be determined using the formula (2) as follows:
begin{align*}
v = lambda cdot f = 3text{ m} cdot 4text{ Hz} = 12 ; frac{text{m}}{text{s}}
end{align*}
end{enumerate}
Result
3 of 3
begin{enumerate}[a)]
item
The frequency is $f = 4text{ Hz}$
item
The period is $T = 0.25text{ s}$
item
The speed of the wave is $v = 12 ; frac{text{m}}{text{s}}$
end{enumerate}
Exercise 38
Step 1
1 of 3
### Theoretical reminder

We know that period $T$ is defined as the time required to complete one full cycle of a given motion.
The frequency $f$ is the number of oscillations per unit time.

They are related by the following formula:

$$
begin{equation}
f = frac{1}{T}
end{equation}
$$

We know that the wavelength and frequency determine the speed of a wave. They are related by the following formula:

$$
begin{equation}
v = lambda cdot f
end{equation}
$$

Step 2
2 of 3
section*{Calculation}
begin{enumerate}[a)]
item
Our wave oscillates $n = 2$ times a second so the frequency is found directly:
begin{align*}
f = frac{n}{t} = frac{2}{1text{ s}} = 2text{ Hz}
end{align*}
item
The period is found using formula (1) as follows:
begin{align*}
T = frac{1}{f} = frac{1}{2text{ Hz}} = 0.5text{ s}
end{align*}
item
Since we know the frequency from part a, and we know the speed to be equal $v = 5.0 ; frac{text{m}}{text{s}}$, the wavelength of the wave can be determined using the formula (2) as follows:
begin{align*}
v = lambda cdot f \
end{align*}
Rearranging for $lambda$ we get:
begin{align*}
lambda = frac{v}{f}
end{align*}
Plugging in the numbers we get:
begin{align*}
lambda = frac{5 ; frac{text{m}}{text{s}}}{2text{ Hz}} = 2.5text{ m}
end{align*}
end{enumerate}
Result
3 of 3
begin{enumerate}[a)]
item
The frequency is $f = 2text{ Hz}$
item
The period is $T = 0.5text{ s}$
item
The wavelength of the wave is $lambda = 2.5text{ m}$
end{enumerate}
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