What is the frequency of a wave having a period equal to 18 seconds? a. 6.6 × 10-2 hertz b. 5.5 × 10-2 hertz c. 3.3 × 10-2 hertz d. 1.8 × 10-2 hertz e. 8.0 × 10-3 hertz
Frequency = 1/period. ... 1 / 18 sec = (1/18) per sec. That's 0.056 per sec or 0.056 Hz. (rounded)
(5.6 x 10^-2 Hz)
Answer: Option (b) is the correct answer.
Explanation:
The time taken by a wave crest to travel a distance equal to the length of wave is known as wave period.
The relation between wave period and frequency is as follows.
\(T = \frac{1}{f}\)
where, T = time period
f = frequency
It is given that wave period is 18 seconds. Therefore, calculate the wave period as follows.
\(T = \frac{1}{f}\)
or, \(f = \frac{1}{T}\)
= \(\frac{1}{18 sec}\)
= 0.055 per second (1 cycle per second = 1 Hertz)
or, f = \(5.5 \times 10^{-2} hertz\)
Thus, we can conclude that the frequency of the wave is \(5.5 \times 10^{-2} hertz\).