Question
Wind gusts create ripples on the ocean that have a wavelength of 5.00 cm and propagate at 2.00 m/s. What is their frequency?
Question by OpenStax is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Final Answer

40.0 Hz40.0 \textrm{ Hz}

Solution video

OpenStax College Physics, Chapter 16, Problem 49 (Problems & Exercises)

OpenStax College Physics, Chapter 16, Problem 49 (PE) video thumbnail

In order to watch this solution you need to have a subscription.

Start free trial Log in
vote with a rating of votes with an average rating of .

Calculator Screenshots

  • OpenStax College Physics, Chapter 16, Problem 49 (PE) calculator screenshot 1
Video Transcript
This is College Physics Answers with Shaun Dychko. Wave speed is frequency multiplied by wave length. So to solve for frequency we divide both sides by lambda. So f equals v over lambda and that is two meters per second divided by five centimeters written as five times ten to the minus two meters. This gives a frequency of 40 Hertz.