A wave with a height of 4ft will have _______ as much energy as a 2ft wave.
A) two times
B) four times
C) six times
D) eight times
E) ten times

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy of a wave is proportional to the square of its height. Therefore, a 4ft wave will have 4^2 = 16 times as much energy as a 2ft wave. Since we are asked for the ratio between the two waves, we can divide 16 by 4 to find that a wave with a height of 4ft will have 4 times as much energy as a 2ft wave. Therefore, the best choice is B, four times.

A Wave with a Height of 4ft Will Have _______