The relationship between frequency (fff) and wavelength (λ\lambdaλ) of a sound wave is given by the formula:
v=f×λv = f \times \lambdav=f×λ
v=f×λv = f \times \lambdav=f×λ
Where:
- vvv is the speed of sound in the medium (measured in meters per second, m/sm/sm/s).
- fff is the frequency of the sound wave (measured in hertz, HzHzHz).
- λ\lambdaλ is the wavelength (measured in meters, mmm).
Explanation:
- Frequency (fff): The number of oscillations or cycles that a sound wave completes in one second.
- Wavelength (λ\lambdaλ): The distance between two consecutive points in phase on the wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough.
- Speed of Sound (vvv): The speed at which sound waves travel through a medium, like air, water, or steel. In air at room temperature, this speed is approximately 343 meters per second.
Example:
If the speed of sound in air is 343 m/s343 \, m/s343m/s and the frequency of the sound wave is 440 Hz440 \, Hz440Hz (which is the standard pitch for musical note A), then the wavelength λ\lambdaλ can be calculated as:
λ=vf=343 m/s440 Hz≈0.78 m\lambda = \frac{v}{f} = \frac{343 \, m/s}{440 \, Hz} \approx 0.78 \, mλ=fv=440Hz343m/s≈0.78m
This means the wavelength of a 440 Hz sound wave in air is about 0.78 meters.