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Wave Speed Formula:
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Wave speed is the distance traveled by a wave per unit time. It's a fundamental property of waves that describes how fast the wave propagates through a medium.
The calculator uses the wave speed formula:
Where:
Explanation: The speed of a wave equals the product of its frequency and wavelength. This relationship holds for all types of waves including sound, light, and water waves.
Details: Calculating wave speed is essential in various fields including physics, engineering, telecommunications, and acoustics. It helps determine how waves behave in different media and under various conditions.
Tips: Enter frequency in Hertz (Hz) and wavelength in meters (m). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and speed?
A: Wave speed equals frequency multiplied by wavelength (v = f × λ). This means as frequency increases while wavelength remains constant, speed increases proportionally.
Q2: Does wave speed depend on the medium?
A: Yes, wave speed varies significantly depending on the medium. For example, sound travels faster in water than in air, and light travels fastest in vacuum.
Q3: What are typical wave speeds for different types of waves?
A: Sound waves in air: ~343 m/s, light waves in vacuum: 299,792,458 m/s, seismic waves: 2-8 km/s depending on the type and medium.
Q4: How does temperature affect wave speed?
A: For sound waves in air, speed increases with temperature (approximately 0.6 m/s per °C). For light waves in materials, speed typically decreases with increasing temperature.
Q5: Can this formula be used for all types of waves?
A: Yes, the fundamental relationship v = f × λ applies to all wave types, though the actual speed value depends on the specific properties of the wave and medium.