11.4 A wave that moves at the speed of \( 300 \mathrm{~m} \cdot \mathrm{~s}^{-1} \) has a wave length of 1500 m . Calculate the frequency of the wave.

To calculate the frequency of a wave, you can use the formula: \[ \text{Frequency} (f) = \frac{\text{Speed} (v)}{\text{Wavelength} (\lambda)} \] Given that the speed \( v = 300 \, \text{m/s} \) and the wavelength \( \lambda = 1500 \, \text{m} \), \[ f = \frac{300 \, \text{m/s}}{1500 \, \text{m}} = 0.2 \, \text{Hz} \] So, the frequency of the wave is \( 0.2 \, \text{Hz} \). To put this into perspective, a frequency of \( 0.2 \, \text{Hz} \) means that this wave makes one complete cycle every 5 seconds! That’s like listening to a slow, rhythmic beat—perfect for relaxing to the sound of waves rolling in! If you've ever seen the ocean waves lapping at the shore, each wave can be thought of as a cycle. Understanding wave frequency is crucial in fields like oceanography and acoustics, as it influences how we perceive sound and water waves in various environments! Just think about how sound travels through different mediums; a deep voice might have a lower frequency (deeper undertones) compared to a high-pitched voice, which has a higher frequency.