Tsunamis are fast-moving waves often generated by underwater earthquakes. In the

Question

Tsunamis are fast-moving waves often generated by underwater earthquakes. In the deep ocean their amplitude is barely noticable, but upon reaching shore, they can rise up to the astonishing height of a six-story building. One tsunami, generated off the Aleutian islands in Alaska, had a wavelength of 741 km and traveled a distance of 3650 km in 5.60 h. (a) What was the speed (in m/s) of the wave? For reference, the speed of a 747 jetliner is about 250 m/s. Find the wave's (b) frequency and (c) period.

Explanation / Answer

1)
a) speed(m/s) = distance(m) / time(s)
speed (m/s) = 3650*1000 / (5.6*3600)

speed (m/s) = 181.05 m/s

b) The frequency is a measure of how many waves move past a fixed point in one second and is measured in hertz. So:
frequency = number of waves / time for these waves to pass (s)
frequency = (741000/3650000) / (5.6*3600)
frequency = 10^-5 hertz

c) The period of a wave is a measure of the time it takes for one wave to pass a fixed point. So:
speed (m/s) = distance (m) / time(s). so:
time (s) = distance (m) / speed (m/s)
period = length of the wave (m) / speed of the wave (m/s)
period = 741000 / 181.05
period = 4092.8 s

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