A longitudinal wave travels at a speed of 0.3 m s^-1 and the frequency of a wave is 20 Hz. Find the separation between the two consecutive compressions.

Given,

Wave velocity (V)= 0.3 m s^-1

frequency (f) = 20 Hz

wavelength (λ) = ?

As we know,

Wave velocity (V) = Frequency (f) x Wavelength (λ)

Substituting the values, we get,

$0.3 = 20 \times λ \\[0.5em] \Rightarrow λ = \dfrac{0.3}{20} \\[0.5em] \Rightarrow λ = \dfrac{3}{200} \\[0.5em] \Rightarrow λ = 1.5 \times 10^{-2} \text { m}\\[0.5em]$

Hence, the separation between the two consecutive compressions which is the wave length = 1.5 x 10^-2 m ( or 1.5 cm)