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Wave Speed Formula:
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The wave speed formula calculates the speed at which a wave propagates through a medium. It relates the wave's frequency and wavelength to determine how fast the wave travels.
The calculator uses the wave speed formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that wave speed equals the product of frequency and wavelength. This fundamental relationship applies to all types of waves including sound, light, and water waves.
Details: Calculating wave speed is essential in physics, engineering, and telecommunications for designing communication systems, understanding wave behavior in different media, and solving practical problems involving wave propagation.
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 wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?
A: Wave speed is directly proportional to both frequency and wavelength. If frequency increases while wavelength remains constant, wave speed increases, and vice versa.
Q2: Does wave speed depend on the medium?
A: Yes, wave speed varies with the medium. For example, sound travels faster in solids than in gases, while light travels fastest in vacuum.
Q3: What are typical wave speeds for different types of waves?
A: Sound in air: ~343 m/s, light in vacuum: 299,792,458 m/s, seismic waves: 2-8 km/s depending on the medium.
Q4: Can this formula be used for all types of waves?
A: Yes, the formula v = f × λ applies to all periodic waves including electromagnetic waves, sound waves, and mechanical waves.
Q5: How does temperature affect wave speed?
A: For sound waves in air, speed increases with temperature. For light waves in materials, speed typically decreases with increasing temperature due to changes in refractive index.