how do you determine the velocity of a wave

HESI A2

HESI A2 Physics

1. How do you determine the velocity of a wave?

A. Multiply the frequency by the wavelength.
B. Add the frequency and the wavelength.
C. Subtract the wavelength from the frequency.
D. Divide the wavelength by the frequency.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The velocity of a wave can be determined by multiplying the frequency of the wave by the wavelength. This relationship is given by the formula: velocity = frequency × wavelength. By multiplying the frequency by the wavelength, you can calculate the speed at which the wave is traveling. This formula is derived from the basic wave equation v = f × λ, where v represents velocity, f is frequency, and λ is wavelength. Therefore, to find the velocity of a wave, one must multiply its frequency by its wavelength. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Adding, subtracting, or dividing the frequency and wavelength does not yield the correct calculation for wave velocity. The correct formula for determining wave velocity is to multiply the frequency by the wavelength.

2. A pitcher throws a 45-g baseball at a velocity of 42 meters per second. What is the ball’s momentum?

A. 0.189 kg⋅m/s
B. 1.89 kg⋅m/s
C. 1.07 kg⋅m/s
D. 0.93 kg⋅m/s

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Momentum is calculated by multiplying mass (in kg) by velocity (in m/s). The mass of the baseball is 0.045 kg (45 grams converted to kg), and the velocity is 42 m/s. Momentum = 0.045 kg × 42 m/s = 1.89 kg⋅m/s. Therefore, the correct answer is 1.89 kg⋅m/s. Choice A is incorrect as it incorrectly converts the mass from grams to kg. Choice C and D are incorrect due to calculation errors.

3. Which of these substances is most compressible?

A. Gold
B. Water
C. Mercury
D. Methane

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Methane, a gas at room temperature and pressure, is the most compressible substance among the options provided. Gases are generally more compressible compared to liquids and solids because their particles have more space between them, allowing for greater compression when pressure is applied. Gold, water, and mercury, being solid and liquid substances, respectively, have particles arranged closely together, making them less compressible. Therefore, the correct answer is Methane.

4. Which property of a substance does not change with a change in temperature?

A. Mass
B. Volume
C. Phase
D. Solubility

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mass is an intrinsic property of a substance that remains constant regardless of temperature changes. It is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, and this quantity does not vary with temperature or the environment in which the substance is located. The conservation of mass in chemistry dictates that mass is neither created nor destroyed, making it independent of temperature variations.\nVolume, on the other hand, changes with temperature due to thermal expansion or contraction. Phase can change with temperature, leading to transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states. Solubility is affected by temperature changes as it influences the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.

5. When a fluid encounters a bluff body (e.g., a car), the flow can separate behind the object, creating a region of low pressure. This phenomenon is known as:

A. Cavitation
B. Boundary layer separation
C. Bernoulli effect per se
D. Drag crisis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Boundary layer separation. Boundary layer separation occurs when the flow of fluid detaches from the surface of a bluff body, leading to a low-pressure region behind the object. This separation creates a wake region with reduced pressure. Choice A, Cavitation, refers to the formation of vapor bubbles in a fluid and is not relevant in this context. Choice C, Bernoulli effect per se, does not specifically describe the phenomenon of flow separation behind a bluff body. Choice D, Drag crisis, is not the term used to describe the creation of a low-pressure region due to flow separation.