Wave speed equation
Period T
The period of a wave is the time taken for one wave to be produced or the time for one complete The repeated and regular fluctuations, above and below the same position, eg the pressure of a sound wave or the voltage of an alternating current. or vibration.
It is also the time taken for one whole wave to pass a point.
Period is measured in seconds.
Wave speed equation
The speed of a wave is related to its The number of waves produced each second. The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz). and The length of a single wave, measured from one wave peak to the next., according to the equation:
\(wave~speed~(v) = frequency (f) \times wavelength (\lambda)\)
\(v = f~ \lambda\)
where:
v = wave speed in metres per second, m/s
f = frequency in hertz, Hz
\(\lambda\) (lambda) = wavelength in metres, m
All waves, including sound waves and electromagnetic waves, follow this equation.
It should be noted that some particular waves have their own specific speeds:
- the speed of light and all of the electromagnetic spectrum in a vacuum is 300,000,000 m/s or 3脳108 m/s
- the speed of sound in air is often taken to be 340 m/s.