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

17227 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A 2 kW electric fire is switched on for 30 minutes. How many Units of electricity does it use?


define 1 volt


What's the difference between velocity and speed?


On a day with no wind, a large object is dropped from a tall building. The object experiences air resistance during its fall to the ground. State and explain, in terms of the forces acting, how the acceleration of the object varies during its fall.


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning