Wave speed

• What is the wave speed? (Medium)

  the speed at which the wave moves through the medium
• What is the wave speed? (Energy)

  the speed at which energy is transferred
• What is the wave speed equation?

  V= F x λ

  wave speed (m/s)= frequency (Hz) x wavelength (m)
• What is a problem with the trick question experiment? (Reaction time)

  Everyone has a different reaction time

  • it takes a fraction of a second between seeing the cymbals & starting the timer.
  • it takes a fraction of a second between hearing the sound and stopping the timer
• What is a solution to the trick question experiment (reaction time)?

  • Have a large number of observers with timers.
  • Then take all their results & discard any that are anomalous.
  • Then we calculate a mean
• What is a second problem with the trick question experiment (short time)?

  the time between seeing the cymbals clash & hearing the sound is very short. This makes it difficult to press the timer at the correct times
• What’s a solution to the trick question experiment ? (Short time)

  • Increasing the distance between person A & B.
  • the longer the distance, the longer the time and this makes it easier to start and stop the timer at the correct times