+11 votes
in Waves physics by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+10 votes
by

The relationship between wave speed and angular frequency depends on the type of wave and the medium through which it propagates.

For a wave traveling in a homogeneous medium, the wave speed (v) is related to the angular frequency (ω) by the formula:

v = ω/k,

where k is the wave number. The wave number represents the spatial frequency of the wave, which is the number of wavelengths per unit distance. It is given by:

k = 2π/λ,

where λ is the wavelength of the wave.

By substituting the expression for the wave number into the equation for wave speed, we get:

v = ω/(2π/λ).

Simplifying further, we find:

v = ωλ/(2π).

This equation shows that the wave speed is directly proportional to the product of the angular frequency and the wavelength. In other words, if the angular frequency increases while the wavelength remains constant, the wave speed will increase. Similarly, if the angular frequency remains constant while the wavelength decreases, the wave speed will also increase.

It's important to note that this relationship holds for waves in homogeneous media, such as electromagnetic waves in vacuum or sound waves in a uniform medium. In different media or for more complex wave phenomena, additional factors and equations may come into play.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...