While fishing in a boat on a lake one afternoon, a speedboat roars by. You note that you bob up and down five times in 20 seconds. The frequency of this train of water waves is
5/20 = 0.25 waves (cycles) per second
That is the frequency
To determine the frequency of the water waves created by the speedboat, we need to use the formula:
Frequency = Number of cycles / Time
In this case, the number of cycles is given as 5 (because you bob up and down five times) and the time is given as 20 seconds (the duration in which these five cycles occur).
So, we can calculate the frequency by dividing the number of cycles by the time:
Frequency = 5 cycles / 20 seconds
Simplifying the expression:
Frequency = 0.25 cycles/second
Therefore, the frequency of the water waves created by the speedboat passing by is 0.25 cycles per second.
To find the frequency of the water waves, we need to divide the number of waves (bobbing up and down) by the time it takes for those waves to occur.
The given information tells us that the boat bobs up and down five times in 20 seconds.
Frequency = number of waves / time
Frequency = 5 waves / 20 seconds
Frequency = 0.25 waves/second
Therefore, the frequency of the water waves is 0.25 waves per second.