Practice Wave Speed in Physics
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
The speed at which a wave pattern propagates through a medium, determined by the medium's properties.
How fast the wave's shape moves forward through whatever it's traveling in.
Example 1
easyA sound wave has a frequency of 440 \text{ Hz} and a wavelength of 0.773 \text{ m}. What is the speed of sound?
Example 2
mediumA seismic wave travels 60 \text{ km} in 10 \text{ s}. What is its speed? If the frequency is 2 \text{ Hz}, what is the wavelength?
Example 3
mediumAn electromagnetic wave has a frequency of 5 \times 10^{14} \text{ Hz}. What is its wavelength? Use c = 3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}.
Example 4
mediumThe speed of sound in air at 20°\text{C} is 343 \text{ m/s} and in water is 1480 \text{ m/s}. A 500 \text{ Hz} tone travels from air into water. Does the frequency or wavelength change? Calculate the wavelength in each medium.
Example 5
mediumA sound wave has frequency 440 Hz and wavelength 0.773 m. Calculate the speed of sound.