A student was investigating the difference in wavelength of a bass guitar and a whistle. The student noticed that the frequency of the whistle was high, and the bass guitar had a low frequency. Given the students' information and the model below, what is the difference in wavelength for each instrument and explain how frequency affects the wavelength?
Type Answer HERE:
The frequency of a sound wave is the number of complete cycles (vibrations) of the wave that occur in one second. In other words, it is the rate at which the wave oscillates or vibrates. The unit for frequency is hertz (Hz).
The wavelength of a sound wave is the distance between two consecutive points of the wave that are in phase, meaning they are at the same stage of their vibration cycle. It is usually represented by the symbol λ (lambda) and is measured in meters (m).
In general, there is an inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength. This means that as the frequency of a sound wave increases, its wavelength decreases, and vice versa. This relationship is described by the formula:
wavelength = speed of sound / frequency
Now, coming back to the student's investigation, the student noticed that the frequency of the whistle was high and the bass guitar had a low frequency.
Since the whistle has a high frequency, it means that it produces more cycles per second. As a result, the wavelength of the whistle will be shorter. On the other hand, the bass guitar has a low frequency, meaning it produces fewer cycles per second. Consequently, the wavelength of the bass guitar will be longer.
In conclusion, the difference in wavelength between the bass guitar and the whistle can be explained by their respective frequencies. A high-frequency whistle will have a shorter wavelength, while a low-frequency bass guitar will have a longer wavelength.