WAEC Physics 2017 Paper

Concept: Compare the given wave equation with the standard wave equation to identify what the number $10$ represents.Explanation:The standard wave equation is written as $y = A\sin(kx - \omega t)$.Here, $A$ is the amplitude, $k$ is the angular wave number, and $\omega$ is the angular frequency.The given equation is $y = 10\sin(x - 50t)$.By comparing the two equations term by term, the coefficient of the sine function is $10$.Therefore, $A = 10$.In the given equation, $kx = x$, so $k = 1$, and $\omega t = 50t$, so $\omega = 50$.The amplitude $A$ is the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position.So the number $10$ directly corresponds to the amplitude of the wave.Answer: C. Amplitude