Frequency, amplitude, tension, and damping do not directly affect the speed of a wave. The speed of a wave is determined by the properties of the medium through which it propagates.
In the case of mechanical waves, such as waves traveling through a string or a medium like water or air, the wave speed is primarily determined by the tension and the inertia of the medium. For example, in a string, the wave speed is proportional to the square root of the tension in the string divided by the linear mass density of the string.
The frequency of a wave represents the number of complete oscillations or cycles of the wave that occur in a given time. It is related to the speed of the wave through the wavelength (the distance between two consecutive points in phase) using the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength.
The amplitude of a wave represents the maximum displacement or height of the wave from its equilibrium position. It does not directly affect the speed of the wave but rather affects the energy carried by the wave.
Damping refers to the process of reducing the amplitude of a wave over time. Damping can occur due to various factors such as friction, viscosity, or absorption of energy by the medium. While damping affects the behavior and properties of waves, it does not directly influence their speed.
Therefore, while frequency, amplitude, tension, and damping can affect the behavior, appearance, and energy of waves, they do not have a direct impact on the speed of waves in a given medium.