Waves, Sound and Light: Wave Basics
Wave Basics: Audio Guided Solution
Problem 16:
Nick and Kara were lounging on rafts in the shallow waters of the beach at Lake Bluebird. They were spaced 1.8 meters apart. A motor boat zoomed past creating ripples which traveled towards Nick and Kara. Nick and Kara's rafts began to bob up and down as the ripples passed by them, making exactly 4 up and down cycles in 8.4 seconds. When Nick's raft was at a high point, Kara's raft was at a low point and there were no crests between their boats. Determine the wavelength, frequency and speed of the ripples Assume that the ripples traveled in a direction parallel to the imaginary line connecting the two rafts.
Audio Guided Solution
Habits of an Effective Problem Solver
- Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
- Identify the known and unknown quantities and record in an organized manner, often times they can be recorded on the diagram itself. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity (e.g., v = 12.8 m/s, λ = 4.52 m, f = ???).
- Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
- Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
- Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.
Read About It!
Get more information on the topic of Waves at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.
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