A bat emits a sound wave with a frequency of 25.0 kHz and a wavelength of 0.0136 metres. Calculate the speed of this sound wave.

In this question you are given frequency and wavelength of the wave and you are asked for the speed. You need to use the formula on you sheet that uses these three properties : v = f x λ, where v is the speed, f is the frequency and λ is the wavelength.

You know from the question that f = 25kHz and λ = 0.0136m, however 1 kHz is actually 1000 Hz and you need to remember this before you do your calculation. Therefore the numbers you need to put into your calculator are f = 25 x 1000 = 25000 and λ = 0.0136.

The calculation that you then need to do is 25000 x 0.0136 = 340. You must not forget the units of speed, which here are metres per second, or m/s. Your final answer is 340 m/s.

LD
Answered by Libby D. Physics tutor

17685 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A note was played on a a keyboard. The frequency of the note was 440 Hz. (a) What does a frequency of 440 Hz mean? (b) The sound waves produced by the keyboard travel at a speed of 340 m/s. Calculate the wavelength of the note.


I throw a ball straight up with an initial velocity of 2m/s. How high is it after a fifth of a second?


A cup of boiling water (100 degrees C) (0.2kg) transfers 20 000J of heat to its surrounding in 1 hour. What temperature is the water in the kettle after 1 hour?


Assuming no friction, describe the motion of a simple pendulum released from rest at t=0 at amplitude A? Provide information about its speed and position at characteristic times during one period. [The 1D equation of motion is described by a cosine]


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