Question

4(b) By means of a ripple tank, a student was able to generate series of transverse waves by varying the frequency of the dipper and all the waves so generated covered a distance of 0.80 m in 0.2 s. Copy and complete the table given above in your answer booklet. [Table with F/Hz, λ/m, λ⁻¹/m⁻¹ columns] (i) Plot a graph with f on the vertical axis and λ⁻¹ on the horizontal axis. (ii) What does the slope of the graph represent?

Accepted Answer

Speed of waves generated = v = 0.8/0.2 = 4 m/s.
Using v=fλ, λ=v/f, so for each frequency f, wavelength λ=v/f and λ⁻¹=f/v.
F(Hz): 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0. λ(m): 2.0, 1.0, 0.667, 0.5, 0.4. λ⁻¹(m⁻¹): 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5.
The slope of the graph of f against λ⁻¹ represents the speed/velocity of the waves.

WAEC Physics 2010 Theory — Question 7

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