What term describes the number of wave crests passing a fixed point per unit time?

Study for the IB Marine Science Standard Level Exam. Prepare with interactive quizzes and in-depth explanations. Use our resources to excel in your marine science knowledge!

Multiple Choice

What term describes the number of wave crests passing a fixed point per unit time?

Explanation:
Rate at which wave crests pass a fixed point is described by wave frequency, measured in hertz. It tells you how many crests occur per second, so if the crests come quickly, the frequency is high; if they come slowly, the frequency is low. Frequency relates to the wave period by frequency = 1 divided by the period, since a shorter period means more crests pass each second. The other terms describe different properties: wave height is how tall the wave is from trough to crest, wave period is the time between successive crests, and a crest is just a single peak.

Rate at which wave crests pass a fixed point is described by wave frequency, measured in hertz. It tells you how many crests occur per second, so if the crests come quickly, the frequency is high; if they come slowly, the frequency is low. Frequency relates to the wave period by frequency = 1 divided by the period, since a shorter period means more crests pass each second. The other terms describe different properties: wave height is how tall the wave is from trough to crest, wave period is the time between successive crests, and a crest is just a single peak.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy