I sit in a boat on a lake and watch water waves pass.I count 1.5 s for the wave crests to travel the length of my (stationary)4.5-m long boat.The time between successive crests is 0.5 s.What is the wavelength of the waves?
A)0.5 m
B)1.0 m
C)1.5 m
D)2.0 m
E)2.5 m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The wavelength is the distance between two successive crests. The time between successive crests is 0.5 s, and the wave crests travel the length of the boat (4.5 m) in 1.5 s. Therefore, the wavelength is 4.5 m / 1.5 s = 3 m.

I Sit in a Boat on a Lake and Watch