Question
As ocean waves approach the shore, friction with the ocean bottom causes them to slow down. If the frequency is the same, how will this affect the wavelength of the waves?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
When ocean waves approach the shore and slow down due to friction with the ocean bottom, their frequency remains constant. According to the wave equation, the relationship between wave speed (v), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) is given by:
\[ v = f \cdot λ \]
When the speed of the wave decreases (as it does when waves approach the shore), and the frequency remains the same, the wavelength must also decrease to maintain the equation's balance. This means that:
- If the speed of the wave decreases,
- and the frequency is constant,
- then the wavelength (λ) will decrease.
Therefore, as the ocean waves slow down due to the friction near the shore, their wavelengths will become shorter.
\[ v = f \cdot λ \]
When the speed of the wave decreases (as it does when waves approach the shore), and the frequency remains the same, the wavelength must also decrease to maintain the equation's balance. This means that:
- If the speed of the wave decreases,
- and the frequency is constant,
- then the wavelength (λ) will decrease.
Therefore, as the ocean waves slow down due to the friction near the shore, their wavelengths will become shorter.