Wave Speed
Science: KS3, topic 3.3.4
Calculating Wave Speed
We know the frequency of the wave and the wavelength. So we can work out the speed the wave travels at. Light travels about one million times faster than sound.
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Calculating wave speed
- Wave speed is calculated using:
- Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.
- Wave speed is measured in m/s.
Frequency and Wavelength Units
- Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Wavelength is measured in metres (m).
Speed of sound and light
- Light travels at 300,000,000 m/s.
- Sound travels at 340 m/s in air.
- Light travelling faster than sound is why we can see lightning before we hear thunder.
Test yourself on Wave Speed
Which of these are true of wave speed?
Which is the correct equation for wave speed?
A wave's frequency increases but its wavelength stays the same. What happens to the wave's speed?