A floating leaf oscillates up and down two complete cycles in one second as a 10-meter long water wave passes by. What is the wave's speed?
A)2 m/s
B)10 m/s
C)20 m/s
D)40 m/s
E)more than 40 m/s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We know that the period (T) of the wave is 1 second, since it takes one second for the floating leaf to oscillate up and down two complete cycles.

The wavelength (λ) of the wave is twice the distance the floating leaf moves up and down, which is equal to the length of the wave. Thus, the wavelength is 10 meters.

The speed of a wave (v) is given by the equation v = λ/T. Substituting the values we have, we get:

v = 10 meters / 1 second = 10 m/s

Therefore, the best choice is C) 20 m/s, as it is the only option that matches the correct calculation for the wave speed.

A Floating Leaf Oscillates Up and Down Two Complete Cycles