Wave Velocity Equation:
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Wave velocity is the speed at which a wave propagates through a medium. It's calculated as the product of the wave's frequency and wavelength. This fundamental relationship applies to all types of waves including sound, light, and water waves.
The calculator uses the wave velocity equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that wave velocity is directly proportional to both frequency and wavelength. Higher frequency or longer wavelength means faster wave propagation.
Details: Calculating wave velocity is essential in physics, engineering, and telecommunications for designing systems that use wave propagation, such as radio communications, acoustics, and optics.
Tips: Enter frequency in Hertz (Hz) and wavelength in meters (m). Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the wave velocity in meters per second (m/s).
Q1: Does this equation work for all types of waves?
A: Yes, the fundamental relationship V = f × λ applies to all waves, though the actual velocity depends on the medium's properties.
Q2: How does medium affect wave velocity?
A: Wave velocity changes with medium properties - sound travels faster in water than air, light travels slower in glass than vacuum.
Q3: What are typical sound wave velocities?
A: About 343 m/s in air at 20°C, 1482 m/s in water, and 5120 m/s in iron.
Q4: What's the velocity of light waves?
A: Approximately 3×10⁸ m/s in vacuum, slightly slower in other media.
Q5: Can wavelength be calculated from velocity and frequency?
A: Yes, the equation can be rearranged as λ = V/f.