# A student makes waves on the surface of water in a tank. The waves travel at a speed of 0.6 m/s and have a frequency of 3 Hz. Explain what is meant by the terms frequency and wavelength, and describe how the student could use the wave speed equation to find the wavelength of these water waves.

> Eduqas A-Level Physics — 2.5 Wave properties · Explain · 5 marks

> Waves transfer energy from one place to another without transferring matter. All waves have properties including amplitude, frequency, wavelength and wave speed.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Frequency is the number of complete waves (oscillations/cycles) passing a point per second
2. Wavelength is the distance from one point on a wave to the equivalent point on the next wave (e.g. crest to crest / trough to trough)
3. State the wave speed equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength
4. Rearrange the equation correctly to find wavelength: wavelength = wave speed ÷ frequency
5. Correctly substitutes values to give wavelength = 0.6 ÷ 3 = 0.2 m

## Key terms

- [frequency](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/frequency)
- [wavelength](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/wavelength)
- [wave speed](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/wave-speed)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-makes-waves-on-the-dce6a6de) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.