What Is The Wave Speed

Permit's assume that you move one end of the rope up and down to generate a wave in the string. How long will it take for the wave to travel from i end to some other? Information technology depends on the speed of the wave.

What is the Speed of a Wave?

Wave speed is the distance the moving ridge travels in a given amount of time, such as the number of meters it travels per second. The equation that represents the wave speed is given every bit follows:

\(\begin{array}{l}Speed=\frac{Distance}{Fourth dimension}\end{array} \)

If an ocean moving ridge crest travels a distance of 30 g in 10 seconds, then the speed of the ocean wave is iii m/s. On the other mitt, if the crest of the ocean wave covers a distance of forty m at the same fourth dimension that is 10 seconds, then the speed of this sea wave is four one thousand/s. From this, we can conclude that the faster wave covers a larger distance in the same amount of time.

Sometimes, nosotros run across situations in which the wave meets the end of a medium and also the presence of a dissimilar medium. To better understand this, allow us have the case of a slinky. The wave introduced by a person into the slinky volition travel through the slinky and somewhen reaches the end of the slinky and the presence of the hand of a second person. I beliefs that waves undergo at the end of the medium is reflection. When a wave undergoes reflection, it merely remains in the medium and just reverses its direction of travel. The slinky wave has traveled double its distance. This reflection miracle of waves is commonly observed in sound waves. When you let out a loud weep inside a canyon, yous oftentimes hear the echo of the holler. The sound waves travel through the medium; in this case, the air and reflect off the canyon wall and render to the origin of the audio (you). The result is that you hear the echo of your holler. A archetype problem about the reflection of the wave is as follows:

Example one: Deepa stands 170 meters away from a steep coulee wall. She shouts and hears her echo a 2nd later. What is the speed of the moving ridge?
speed of the wave

Solution:

In this case, the speed of the moving ridge is 340 m/s because the altitude travelled by the audio moving ridge in 1 second is equivalent to 170 meters down to the coulee wall plus 170 meters back from the canyon wall.

And, we know that,

\(\brainstorm{assortment}{l}Speed=\frac{Distance}{Time}\end{array} \)

Substituting the value, nosotros become:

\(\begin{array}{50}Speed=\frac{170\,m/southward + 170\,1000/s}{ane\,s}\end{array} \)

\(\begin{assortment}{l}= 340\,m/s\finish{array} \)

Dependance on the Medium

The speed of well-nigh waves depends on the medium in which it travels. Generally, waves travel fastest through solids and slowest through gases. This is because particles are closest together in solids and farthest autonomously in gases. When the particles are farther apart, it takes longer for the energy distribution to laissez passer from one particle to another through the medium.

Suggested Reading

The given video demonstrates the velocity of the moving ridge on a string.

If you wish to acquire more than Physics concepts with the help of interactive video lessons, download BYJU'Southward – The Learning App.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What is a wave?

A wave is a disturbance in a medium that carries free energy without a net move of particles.

Land truthful or simulated: Wave involves a repetitive and periodic motion.

Ascertain wave speed.

Wave speed is defined as the full distance covered by the wave in a given fourth dimension period.

Give the equation that represents the wave speed.

Wave Speed = Distance Covered/Fourth dimension taken

Define period of a moving ridge.

The period of a wave is the fourth dimension for a particle on a medium to brand 1 consummate vibrational cycle.