Wavelength Calculator

How to Calculate Wavelength, Frequency, and Velocity

Understanding the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity is fundamental in physics, especially when studying waves. This calculator helps you determine any one of these variables when you know the other two.

What is the Formula?

The basic formula relating wavelength, frequency, and velocity is:

\[ v = \lambda f \]

Where:

• v is the velocity of the wave (typically in meters per second, m/s)
• λ (lambda) is the wavelength (typically in meters, m)
• f is the frequency (typically in Hertz, Hz)

From this, we can derive two other formulas:

\[ \lambda = \frac{v}{f} \]

\[ f = \frac{v}{\lambda} \]

What are the calculation steps?

1. Identify which two variables you know and which one you need to calculate.
2. Ensure all units are consistent (convert if necessary).
3. Apply the appropriate formula based on what you're calculating.
4. Perform the calculation to get your result.

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the wavelength of a wave:

Given:

• Velocity (v) = 343 m/s (speed of sound in air at 20°C)
• Frequency (f) = 440 Hz (musical note A4)

Step 1: Identify the formula

We need to calculate wavelength, so we'll use: λ = v / f

Step 2: Plug in the values

λ = 343 m/s / 440 Hz

Step 3: Perform the calculation

λ = 0.78 m

Therefore, the wavelength of the sound wave is 0.78 meters.

Diagram of Wave Properties

The following diagram illustrates the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity in a wave:

This diagram shows a typical wave, where the wavelength (λ) is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs. The frequency (f) is the number of wave cycles that pass a fixed point per second, and the velocity (v) is the speed at which the wave travels through the medium. The relationship v = λ * f encapsulates how these properties are interconnected.