Every Toolkit

Wave Speed Calculator

Calculate wave speed, frequency, or wavelength using v = fλ

Calculate

Choose what to calculate

Input Values

Enter known values

Number of wave cycles per second

Distance between wave peaks

Common Examples

Radio wave (FM 100 MHz)
f = 100,000,000 Hz, λ = 3 m → v = 299,792,458 m/s
Type: Electromagnetic
Sound wave (middle C, 262 Hz)
f = 262 Hz, λ = 1.31 m → v = 343 m/s
Type: Mechanical
Ocean wave (0.1 Hz)
f = 0.1 Hz, λ = 156 m → v = 15.6 m/s
Type: Water

Wave Types

Electromagnetic Waves
Examples: Light, Radio, X-rays, Microwaves
Speed: Speed of light (c ≈ 3×10⁸ m/s)
Medium: Can travel through vacuum
Mechanical Waves
Examples: Sound, Seismic, Water waves
Speed: Varies by medium
Medium: Requires a medium to travel

Result

Calculated wave speed

300.0000
m/s
≈ 0.000100% speed of light

Wave Equation

v = f × λ
Wave Speed = Frequency × Wavelength
v = Wave Speed (meters per second, m/s)
f = Frequency (Hertz, Hz or cycles/second)
λ = Wavelength (meters, m)
Calculating: v = 100 Hz × 3 m = 300 m/s

Key Concepts

Frequency (f):
Number of complete wave cycles passing a point per second
Wavelength (λ):
Distance between two consecutive wave peaks or troughs
Wave Speed (v):
How fast the wave propagates through the medium
Inverse Relationship:
Higher frequency = shorter wavelength (at constant speed)

Wave Speed Reference

Speed of Light (c)299,792,458 m/s
Speed of Sound (air, 20°C)343 m/s
Speed of Sound (water)1,482 m/s
Speed of Sound (steel)5,960 m/s

You Might Also Like

Explore more tools in this category

Watts to Amps Calculator
Calculate watts to amps, amps to watts for DC and AC circuits
Torque Calculator
Calculate torque using force, power, angular acceleration, or moment of inertia
Series Resistor Calculator
Calculate total resistance, current, voltage drops, and power for series circuits
Parallel Resistor Calculator
Calculate total resistance, current, branch currents, and power for parallel circuits
Centrifugal Force Calculator
Calculate centrifugal force with acceleration and angular velocity calculations
Angular Frequency Calculator
Calculate angular frequency, frequency, period, and RPM with conversions
Angular Momentum Calculator
Calculate angular momentum for point mass, rigid body, and orbital systems
RLC Calculator
Calculate resonance, impedance, and reactance for RLC circuits
Stress Calculator
Calculate mechanical stress (tensile, compressive, shear) with safety analysis

About Wave Speed Calculator

The Wave Equation

This calculator uses the fundamental wave equation v = fλ, which relates the speed of a wave to its frequency and wavelength. This relationship applies to all types of waves, including electromagnetic waves (light, radio), mechanical waves (sound, water), and seismic waves.

Features

  • Calculate wave speed from frequency and wavelength
  • Calculate frequency from wave speed and wavelength
  • Calculate wavelength from wave speed and frequency
  • Quick presets for common wave speeds (light, sound)
  • Automatic unit conversions (Hz, kHz, MHz, GHz)
  • Real-world examples from different wave types
  • Comparison to speed of light percentage
  • Support for electromagnetic and mechanical waves

Understanding Waves

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through space or matter. The wave equation shows that for a given wave speed, higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequency waves have longer wavelengths. This relationship is fundamental to understanding electromagnetic radiation, sound, and many other physical phenomena.

Applications

  • Radio and telecommunications engineering
  • Acoustic design and sound engineering
  • Optical systems and photonics
  • Seismology and earthquake analysis
  • Medical imaging (ultrasound, MRI)
  • Radar and sonar systems
  • Spectroscopy and chemistry
  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Important Notes

  • Wave speed depends on the medium (air, water, vacuum, etc.)
  • Electromagnetic waves travel at light speed in vacuum
  • Sound speed varies with temperature and pressure
  • The equation applies to all wave types (transverse and longitudinal)
  • Frequency remains constant when waves change medium
  • Wavelength changes when wave speed changes