In a given medium, which statement about wave speeds is true?

In a given medium, which statement about wave speeds is true?

• A. The speed depends only on the frequency
• B. The speed is the same for all wave types in all media
• C. The speed depends on the medium and the type of wave
• D. The speed is determined solely by the amplitude

Answer: (C)

Wave speed is not a single universal value; it depends on what is waving and what is waving through. Different media have different restoring forces and inertia, and different kinds of waves use those properties in distinct ways. So in the same material, a longitudinal sound wave and a transverse wave can travel at different speeds because the underlying mechanics differ. The relation v = fλ shows how frequency and wavelength are tied, but the actual speed you get for a given wave depends on the medium and the wave type, not on amplitude. That’s why the best description is that speed depends on the medium and the type of wave.

Wave speed is not a single universal value; it depends on what is waving and what is waving through. Different media have different restoring forces and inertia, and different kinds of waves use those properties in distinct ways. So in the same material, a longitudinal sound wave and a transverse wave can travel at different speeds because the underlying mechanics differ. The relation v = fλ shows how frequency and wavelength are tied, but the actual speed you get for a given wave depends on the medium and the wave type, not on amplitude. That’s why the best description is that speed depends on the medium and the type of wave.