Answer :
Answer:
t_avg = 1.71 s
v = 2.92 m/s
Note: Answers were rounded to three significant figures.
Explanation:
To determine the speed of a wave traveling through a slinky spring, we need to first find the average time it took for the pulse to travel the measured distance of 5 meters, and then use this to calculate the wave's average speed.
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Calculation of Average Time
First, we calculate the average time using the times recorded by the students:
Given times: 1.71 s, 1.64 s, 1.78 s, 1.75 s, and 1.67 s.
To find the average:
[tex]\Longrightarrow t_{\text{avg.}}=\dfrac{1.71+1.64+1.78+1.75+1.67 \text{ s}}{5}\\\\\\\\\therefore t_{\text{avg.}}=1.71 \text{ s}[/tex]
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Calculation of Average Speed
Once we have the average time, the speed of the wave can be calculated using the formula:
[tex]v=\dfrac{\text{Distance}}{t_{\text{avg.}}}\\\\\\\\\Longrightarrow v=\dfrac{5.0 \text{ m}}{1.71 \text{ s}}}\\\\\\\\\therefore v \approx \boxed{2.92 \text{ m/s}}[/tex]
Thus, the speed of the wave is calculated.