Wave speed calculator (v = f λ)
Enter the frequency and wavelength to get the wave speed in meters per second. It works for sound, water, string and electromagnetic waves.
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Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Enter frequency and wavelength.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Speed v = f × λ, period T = 1 / f, angular frequency ω = 2π f, wavenumber k = 2π / λ.
Example
Inputs: Frequency = 440 Hz, Wavelength = 0.78 m. Result: Wave speed: 343.2 m/s; Period: 0.002273 s; Angular frequency: 2,764.6015 rad/s.
Limits and caveats
- It assumes a single-frequency periodic wave and does not compute group velocity in dispersive media.
Questions about this tool
Does wave speed change if I change the frequency?
In the same medium the speed stays about constant, so a higher frequency means a proportionally shorter wavelength.
What is the difference between period and frequency?
Frequency is oscillations per second and the period is the time of one oscillation; each is the reciprocal of the other.
Does it work for light?
Yes. Enter the frequency and vacuum wavelength of light and you get about 299792458 m/s.