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Multiple Choice

The speed of sound in air at room temperature is about 343 m/s. A 680 Hz siren has what wavelength in air?

Wavelength is found from the speed of the wave and its frequency using the relation v = f × λ. For a sound wave, the wavelength is λ = v / f. In air at room temperature, the speed is about 343 m/s. The siren emits at 680 Hz, so the wavelength is λ = 343 m/s ÷ 680 Hz ≈ 0.504 m. So the wave crests are about half a meter apart. The other values would require different frequencies: a longer wavelength would come from a lower frequency, and a shorter one from a higher frequency than 680 Hz.

Wavelength is found from the speed of the wave and its frequency using the relation v = f × λ. For a sound wave, the wavelength is λ = v / f. In air at room temperature, the speed is about 343 m/s. The siren emits at 680 Hz, so the wavelength is λ = 343 m/s ÷ 680 Hz ≈ 0.504 m. So the wave crests are about half a meter apart.

The other values would require different frequencies: a longer wavelength would come from a lower frequency, and a shorter one from a higher frequency than 680 Hz.