Question
On top a coiled spring labeled Wave A with coils, which are widely spaced then tightly spaced then widely space. On bottom a coiled spring labeled Wave B with coils, which are widely spaced then very tightly spaced then widely space.
Which statement can be made about waves A and B?
Wave A has a lower amplitude than Wave B.
Wave A has a higher amplitude than Wave B.
Wave A has a lower frequency than Wave B.
Wave A has a higher frequency than Wave B.
Which statement can be made about waves A and B?
Wave A has a lower amplitude than Wave B.
Wave A has a higher amplitude than Wave B.
Wave A has a lower frequency than Wave B.
Wave A has a higher frequency than Wave B.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To analyze the two waves represented by the coiled springs, we need to consider spacing of the coils, which corresponds to the wavelength of the waves.
In Wave A, the coils are widely spaced, then tightly spaced, then widely spaced again. This indicates that there are regions of rarefaction (widely spaced coils) and compression (tightly spaced coils), suggesting a periodic wave pattern.
In Wave B, the coils start off widely spaced, then become very tightly spaced, and then return to being widely spaced. The very tightly spaced coils indicate a higher frequency because when the coils are closer together, it typically signifies more wave crests and troughs per unit of distance.
Since Wave B has an area with very tightly spaced coils, this indicates that it has a higher frequency than Wave A, which only has tightly spaced coils but not to the extent of Wave B.
From this analysis, the correct statement is:
**Wave A has a lower frequency than Wave B.**
In Wave A, the coils are widely spaced, then tightly spaced, then widely spaced again. This indicates that there are regions of rarefaction (widely spaced coils) and compression (tightly spaced coils), suggesting a periodic wave pattern.
In Wave B, the coils start off widely spaced, then become very tightly spaced, and then return to being widely spaced. The very tightly spaced coils indicate a higher frequency because when the coils are closer together, it typically signifies more wave crests and troughs per unit of distance.
Since Wave B has an area with very tightly spaced coils, this indicates that it has a higher frequency than Wave A, which only has tightly spaced coils but not to the extent of Wave B.
From this analysis, the correct statement is:
**Wave A has a lower frequency than Wave B.**