Tsunamis are fast - moving waves generated by underwater earthquakes. In the dee

Question

Tsunamis are fast - moving waves generated by underwater earthquakes. In the deep ocean their amplitude is barely noticeable, but upon reaching shore, they can rise up to the astonishing height of a six - story building. One tsunami, generated off the Aleutian islands in Alaska, had a wavelength of 850 km and travelled a distance of 3700 km in 5.3 h. What was the speed (in m/s) of the wave? For reference, the speed of a 747 jetliner is about 250 m/s. Find the wave's frequency. Find the wave's period.

Explanation / Answer

a) wave speed = ditstance travelled/time taken

= 3700 km/(5.6 h)

= 3700*1000/(5.6*60*60)

= 183.53 m/s

b) use the relation, v = lamda*f

f = v/lamda

= 183.53/(650*10^3)

= 2.82*10^-4 hz

c) T = 1/f

= 1/(2.82*10^-4)

= 3546 s

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