A Level Physics Practice Exam

What is the wavelength if the speed of a wave is 300 m/s and the frequency is 150 Hz?

1. 2 m

2. 1.5 m

3. 3 m

4. 5 m

The correct answer is: 2 m

To find the wavelength of a wave, you can use the wave equation that relates speed, frequency, and wavelength. The equation is given by: \[ \text{Speed} = \text{Frequency} \times \text{Wavelength} \] From this equation, we can rearrange it to solve for wavelength: \[ \text{Wavelength} = \frac{\text{Speed}}{\text{Frequency}} \] For this question, we have a wave speed of 300 m/s and a frequency of 150 Hz. Plugging the values into the equation gives: \[ \text{Wavelength} = \frac{300 \, \text{m/s}}{150 \, \text{Hz}} = 2 \, \text{m} \] This calculation confirms that the correct wavelength is indeed 2 meters. The other options reflect different wavelengths and are derived either from incorrect calculations or misunderstandings of the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength. The critical point here is applying the wave equation correctly to arrive at the correct value.