question about propagation speed and frequency?

Question

For intro physics level, the depth of a region of water is increased, the propagation speed of waves through this region increases. Is the frequency in this region changed? I know that frequency changes with changes in media, and that you still have the same water, but does changing depth constitute a change in the medium?

Answer 1

The speed will be a function of the depth and wavelength as well as the acceleration due to gravity. In deep water the speed in m/s is approx =1.25 sqrt(wavelength) were the wavelength is in meters.

Answer 2

This is an excellent question.

The speed of sound increases with increased pressure(depth), temperature, and salinity. Check this out...

"In salt water that is free of air bubbles or suspended sediment, sound travels at about 1500 m/s. The speed of sound in seawater depends on pressure (hence depth), temperature (a change of 1 °C ~ 4 m/s), and salinity (a change of 1‰ ~ 1 m/s), " [ See source.]

If L = vt; where L is distance traveled, v is the speed of sound, and t is the time traveled at v; then if we define L to be the wavelength of the sound, we have L/t = v. For a given velocity of sound and a wavelength of L = 1 cycle (the measure from crest to crest for example), we have L(1/t) = Lf = v; where f = 1/t in cycles per second, which is the frequency of the sound.

Thus, as we go deeper into the ocean and velocity increases, both the wavelength and the frequency of that sound will change to accomodate the change in velocities. Even though the medium (salt water) remains the same in general, the make up of that medium (pressure, temperature, and solinity) changes; so in a sense, it really is not the same medium.

Answer 3

the key point to this question is all about refractive indexes. If waves travel into a medium with greater or lower refractive index the several things happen. By definition, the speed of propogation changes, slower for a greater RI faster for a lower RI. The wavelength changes, but the frequency does not. I hope this helps

Answer 4

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Frequency of a wave is its fundamental property.The frequency never changes, a change in medium or change in some property of medium will change velocity of wave, wavelength, intensity .but frequency will never never change

Speed of mechanical elastic wave (sound) in water depends on density and density of water will change with depth.

Change in depth is change in the medium.

Change in depth will affect velocity, wavelength
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