Wave Speed, Frequency & Wavelength Worksheet
Goal: Show that wave speed equals frequency × wavelength, and find out which properties of a wave change its speed.
What to do
- Press Reset (1 m amplitude, 4 m wavelength, 0.5 Hz). Record the wave speed and period.
- Press Reset, then “Long waves”, and record. Repeat with “Fast oscillations” and “Small amplitude”, pressing Reset before each.
- Press Reset and set Wavelength to 8 m and Frequency to 0.25 Hz. Record the last row.
Record your results
| Setting | Wave speed | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Default (4 m, 0.5 Hz) | ||
| Long waves (7 m, 0.5 Hz) | ||
| Fast oscillations (4 m, 1.5 Hz) | ||
| Small amplitude (0.3 m) | ||
| 8 m, 0.25 Hz |
Questions
For each row, multiply the frequency by the wavelength. How does your answer compare with the wave speed readout?
Did changing the amplitude change the wave speed? Why or why not?
What is the period of the “Fast oscillations” wave, and how is it related to the frequency?
The last row has a wavelength of 8 m and a frequency of 0.25 Hz. Why is its speed the same as the default wave?
In this explorer you can change frequency and wavelength separately. On a real rope, the rope itself sets the wave speed. If you shake the rope faster, what happens to the wavelength?
Challenge: a wave travels at 6 m/s with a frequency of 1.5 Hz. Predict its wavelength, then set it up in the explorer to check.
Free from The Physics Lab · thephysicslab.org · HS-PS4-1: Use mathematical representations of the relationships among frequency, wavelength and wave speed.