Measuring the Speed of Waves

• What is measured to determine the speed of waves?

  The speed of the waves
• How can the speed of waves be measured on a material's surface?

  Using the wave speed equation
• What can be measured from an image of waves?

  The wavelength of the waves
• How is wavelength determined from waves?

  By counting the number of waves arriving
• If 10 waves arrive in 1 second, what is the frequency?

  10 Hz
• Why might it be easier to count waves in 60 seconds?

  It reduces counting errors in a short time
• How do you determine the frequency from wave counts in 60 seconds?

  Divide the count by 60
• What does multiplying wavelength by frequency yield?

  The speed of the waves
• What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

  Wavelength multiplied by frequency equals speed
• What is the process to measure wave speed?

  • Use the wave speed equation
  • Count the number of waves arriving
  • Calculate frequency if needed
  • Multiply wavelength by frequency