An ocean wave has an amplitude of 2.5m weather condition suddenly changes such that the wave has an amplitude of 5.0m the amount of energy transported by the is;
Correct answer: C. Quadrupled
- A. Halved
- B. Doubled
- C. Quadrupled
- D. Remain the same
Explanation
The correct option is C Quadrupled. The energy transported by a wave is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude of the wave. This energy-amplitude relationship is sometimes expressed in the following manner. This means that a doubling of the amplitude of a wave is indicative of a quadrupling of the energy transported by the wave. A tripling of the amplitude of a wave is indicative of a nine-fold increase in the amount of energy transported by the wave. And a quadrupling of the amplitude of a wave is indicative of a 16-fold increase in the amount of energy transported by the wave. The table below further expresses this energy-amplitude relationship. Observe that whenever the amplitude increases by a given factor, the energy value is increased by the same factor squared. For example, changing the amplitude from 1 unit to 2 units represents a 2-fold increase in the amplitude and is accompanied by a 4-fold (22) increase in the energy; thus 2 units of energy becomes 4 times bigger - 8 units. As another example, changing the amplitude from 1 unit to 4 units represents a 4-fold increase in the amplitude and is accompanied by a 16-fold (42) increase in the energy; thus 2 units of energy becomes 16 times bigger - 32 units.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2005 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Progressive Waves
Progressive waves transfer energy through a medium or space while particles oscillate about their equilibrium positions. The work includes amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, phase difference, wave speed and the progressive wave equation, while distinguishing travelling waves from stationary waves, where the pattern has fixed nodes and antinodes.
Practise Waves
1,281 free Waves MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Progressive Waves questions
The audible frequency range for human hearing lies in the range:
When the source of sound moves towards the stationary observer, the value of apparent frequency 'fo' is:
The information received at the other end of a fibre can be inaccurate due to of the light signal.
When longitudinal waves propagate through a medium, the particles of the medium:
The energy carried by water waves is proportional to the:
When a wave is reflected while entering from rarer medium to a denser medium, then at the boundary, the reflected wave undergoes a phase change of