A sound wave has a frequency of 500 Hz. The sound wave has a wavelength of 0.34 m in air. Calculate the speed of the sound wave in air?

As we know so far, c = f / λ. This equation comes from a much simpler version of speed = distance/ time. As the λ  (with units "m") can be seen as distance and the frequency (with units "1/s") can be seen as time. So by substituting the wave measurements into the speed = distance/ time formula, you can understand the c = f / λ equation a lot better. 

Now lets make f= 500 Hz and λ = 0.34

So c= 500/ 0.34

Therefore c = 170 (m/s)

RA
Answered by Reni A. Physics tutor

16892 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A hair dryer uses 2000J in 5 seconds when on full power. The power used is?


A jug containing 0.250 kg of liquid is put into a refrigerator. Its temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. The amount of energy transferred from the liquid was 5,250 J. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the liquid.


explain the relationship between resistance and voltage in a filament lamp


A car of mass 1000 kg is travelling at 20 (m/s). The car crashes into a tree, and comes to a complete halt in 0.05s. Calculate the force acting on the car during the collision.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning