At an instant t=0, the displacement pattern of a transverse wave travelling on a long stretched string is inspected along the x–axis. The highest point of the wave is 3.5cm above the equilibrium line, and the lowest point is 3.5cm below it. Two successive crests are located at x=12cm and x=44cm. No information about how the displacement varies with time is yet available.
(i) Identify the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave from the above observations.
(ii) Explain clearly why the period of the wave cannot be computed from this spatial pattern alone and state what additional physical measurement must be performed to determine it.
(iii) A laboratory assistant asserts that the speed of the wave can be obtained from the data already given. Do you agree with this assertion? Give a reasoned justification for your answer.