National League for Nursing (NLN) Science Practice Exam

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What is the effect of increasing the frequency of a wave while keeping its wavelength constant?

Speed decreases.
Speed increases.
Amplitude decreases.
Amplitude increases.

The correct answer is: Speed increases.

When the frequency of a wave is increased while keeping the wavelength constant, the speed of the wave increases. This relationship can be understood through the wave equation, which states that wave speed (v) is the product of wavelength (λ) and frequency (f): \[ v = f \times \lambda \] In this equation, if the wavelength remains constant and the frequency is increased, the only way to maintain the equation's balance is for the speed of the wave to also increase. Therefore, as frequency goes up while wavelength stays unchanged, the overall speed of the wave must also increase. It's important to note that amplitude, which refers to the height of the wave, is independent of both frequency and wavelength in this context. Thus, changes in frequency do not inherently lead to changes in amplitude. This further clarifies why the correct understanding points to an increase in speed as the result of a rise in frequency under constant wavelength conditions.