Question

allison wants to calculate the speed of a sound wave. which formula should she use?
○ distance traveled / amplitude
○ number of wavelengths / amplitude
○ number of wavelengths / time
○ distance traveled / time

Explanation:

To calculate the speed of any object (including a sound wave, which is a type of wave motion), the fundamental formula for speed is \( \text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance traveled}}{\text{time taken}} \). Amplitude relates to the energy/height of the wave, and the number of wavelengths over time is related to frequency (\( f=\frac{\text{number of wavelengths}}{\text{time}} \)), not speed. So the correct formula for speed of a sound wave (or any wave's speed in terms of distance and time) is distance traveled divided by time.

Answer:

D. distance traveled / time (assuming the options are labeled A - D as per the order: first option A, second B, third C, fourth D)