A sound wave in air travels a distance of 220 m in a time of 0.70 s - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1

To calculate the speed of the sound wave, we can use the formula stated above:

1. Substitute the known values into the equation:

   $\text{speed} = \frac{220 \text{ m}}{0.70 \text{ s}}$

2. Perform the calculation:

   $\text{speed} = 314.29 \text{ m/s}$ (rounded to three significant figures is 310 m/s)

Therefore, the speed of the sound wave in air is approximately 310 m/s.

To improve the student's method for measuring the wavelength:

1. Use a more precise measurement tool: Instead of a ruler, using a caliper could provide more accurate measurements of the distance between crests.

2. Measure multiple wavelengths: Measure the distance over several wavelengths and then divide by the number of wavelengths. This can help average out any errors in a single measurement.

3. Ensure the ruler is aligned properly: Make sure that the ruler is positioned accurately at the crest of the wave and that the measurement is taken straight across to avoid parallax errors.

4. Take measurements in still water: Conduct measurements in still water to avoid additional disturbances that might affect wave readings.