The image shows two students modeling a light wave by continuously moving the ends of the rope up and down.

Question

Picture of a boy and girl shaking a rope up and down to model a transverse wave.
Source: Oxford Designers & Illustrators Ltd. Pearson Education Ltd

How would the waves change if the students continued moving the ends of the rope up and down the same distance but moved the ends faster?
(1 point)
The wavelength would increase and the amplitude would
• decrease, but the frequency would be unchanged.
The frequency would increase and the wavelength would decrease, but the amplitude would be unchanged.
The amplitude would increase and the frequency would decrease, but the wavelength would be unchanged.
The wavelength would increase and the frequency would decrease, but the amplitude would be unchanged.

Answer 1

If the students moved the ends of the rope up and down the same distance but did so faster, the situation involves the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and amplitude in wave physics.

• Amplitude: This is the distance the rope is moved up and down, which is stated to remain unchanged.
• Frequency: If the ends of the rope are moved faster, the frequency (number of waves produced in a given time) would increase.
• Wavelength: As the frequency increases while the speed of the wave remains constant, the wavelength must decrease.

Therefore, the correct statement would be:

The frequency would increase and the wavelength would decrease, but the amplitude would be unchanged.