Two students studying waves wrote down different expressions for the speed of a…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Waves · Waves

Problem

Two students studying waves wrote down different expressions for the speed vv of a progressive wave on a stretched string. Student A wrote v=2πλTv = 2\pi \dfrac{\lambda}{T}, while Student B wrote v=2πTλv = 2\pi \dfrac{T}{\lambda}, where λ\lambda is the wavelength and TT is the period of the wave. Answer the following questions: (i) Which of the two expressions has units consistent with the dimensions of speed? (ii) Show, by comparing the units on both sides, how you arrived at your conclusion. (iii) Write the generally accepted relation between vv, λ\lambda and TT, and also the corresponding relation between vv, ω\omega and kk.

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