A speaker emits a sound wave through a metallic block, with a speed of 0.42 km/s, and a frequency of 16kHz. Calculate the wavelength to 3.s.f. Describe the characteristics of a longitudinal wave.
Firstly the values should be converted into more comfortable units. 0.42km/s = 420m/s, and 16kHz = 16,000Hz. Next, use the equation wavelength = speed/frequency This gives wavelength = 420m/s over 16,000/s = 0.02625, which gives 0.0263m, to 3.s.f. In longitudinal waves, particles propagate (travel) in the same direction as the wave. Longitudinal waves create areas of high and low density, called compressions and rarefactions respectively.
JB
Related Physics GCSE answers
All answers ▸According to Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Why then does a box move when I push it? Shouldn't the two opposing forces cancel out to a zero net force?
Jane drops a football from the roof onto the ground below. The ball weighs 0.8kg and the distance the ball falls is 5m. Assuming there are no external forces acting on the ball, what speed will the ball be travelling at just before it hits the ground?
If a 30N force is applied to a stationary object of mass 10kg, at what speed will the object accelerate?
What is the difference between speed and velocity?