How does the speed of a wave change if the amplitude is increased?
Understand the Problem
The question asks how the speed of a wave changes when the amplitude is increased. This involves understanding the relationship between wave properties, particularly speed and amplitude.
Answer
The speed of a wave does not change when amplitude is increased.
Increasing the amplitude of a wave does not affect its speed. The speed of a wave is determined by the properties of the medium through which it travels, such as temperature and density.
Answer for screen readers
Increasing the amplitude of a wave does not affect its speed. The speed of a wave is determined by the properties of the medium through which it travels, such as temperature and density.
More Information
Wave amplitude affects the amount of energy the wave carries; a higher amplitude means the wave is carrying more energy. It's a common misconception that amplitude affects wave speed, but wave speed is determined by the medium.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the effects of amplitude and frequency on wave speed. While amplitude does not affect wave speed, factors like the medium's density, temperature, and tension can.
Sources
- The Speed of a Wave - Physics Classroom - physicsclassroom.com
- Wave characteristics review (article) - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
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