How fast would a 163 Hz wave travel

In summary, in a given medium, all waves of the same type move with the same velocity regardless of their frequencies. This is known as dispersion and is caused by the difference in refractive index for different frequencies. However, in the given problem, the medium was assumed to not change significantly, thus allowing us to ignore this effect.
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traveler7
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Homework Statement



A 1575 Hz wave is passing through a medium and has a speed of 823 m/s. How fast would a 163 Hz wave travel through the same medium? Assume both waves are the same type and that the medium doesn't change in any significant way.

Homework Equations



v=(wavelength)xfrequency


The Attempt at a Solution



823= w(1575)
823/1575=w=.522
.522x163=85.17

not right
 
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In a given medium, all the frequencies move with the same velocity with different wavelength.
 
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thank you so much!
 
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rl.bhat said:
In a given medium, all the frequencies move with the same velocity with different wavelength.


So no need to caculate velocity. Good concept.
 
  • #5


You don't need to calculate anything else. As rl.bhat said, "in a given medium, all waves of same type move with the same velocity regardless of their frequencies."

Eg: Both red light and blue light move at the same speed in a given medium.
(But note that sound and light don't move at the same speed in the same medium because they are different types of waves. There is an obvious assumption in the question that the two waves are of the same type)
 
  • #6


cartonn30gel said:
You don't need to calculate anything else. As rl.bhat said, "in a given medium, all waves of same type move with the same velocity regardless of their frequencies."

Eg: Both red light and blue light move at the same speed in a given medium.
(But note that sound and light don't move at the same speed in the same medium because they are different types of waves. There is an obvious assumption in the question that the two waves are of the same type)

Thanks a lot.
 
  • #7


cartonn30gel said:
Eg: Both red light and blue light move at the same speed in a given medium.

This is not true. The speed of wave does change with frequency, the phenomenon is called "dispersion". The refractive index of a medium is n = c/v where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed in the given material. The refractive index is higher for blue light than it is for red. Dispersion causes the rainbow, and you observe it when a white light beam traverses through a prism.

The problem allowed to ignore this effect saying that "the medium doesn't change in any significant way" when the frequency changes.

ehild
 
  • #8


ehild said:
The speed of wave does change with frequency, the phenomenon is called "dispersion". The refractive index of a medium is n = c/v where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed in the given material.

That's actually right. But last time I wanted to explain things in more detail, I just ended up confusing everybody. I try to stay away from that. But I should have mentioned. Thanks
 

FAQ: How fast would a 163 Hz wave travel

How is the speed of a 163 Hz wave calculated?

The speed of a wave can be calculated by multiplying the wavelength of the wave by its frequency. In this case, the wavelength would need to be known in order to determine the speed of the 163 Hz wave.

What is the unit of measurement for the speed of a wave?

The speed of a wave is typically measured in meters per second (m/s). This is a unit of velocity, which represents the distance that an object travels in a certain amount of time.

Can the speed of a 163 Hz wave be affected by external factors?

Yes, the speed of a wave can be affected by various external factors such as the medium through which it is traveling, temperature, and pressure. These factors can alter the properties of the medium and therefore impact the speed of the wave.

How does the speed of a 163 Hz wave compare to other frequencies?

The speed of a wave is not dependent on its frequency. Different frequencies can travel at the same speed, as long as they have the same wavelength. However, the wavelength of a 163 Hz wave may be shorter or longer than that of other frequencies, which could potentially affect its speed.

Is the speed of a 163 Hz wave constant?

In a vacuum, the speed of a 163 Hz wave would be constant. However, in real-world situations where the wave is traveling through a medium, the speed may vary due to external factors. In most cases, the speed of a wave will be slightly slower in a medium compared to a vacuum.

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