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

17212 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Jane drops a football from the roof onto the ground below. The ball weighs 0.8kg and the distance the ball falls is 5m. Assuming there are no external forces acting on the ball, what speed will the ball be travelling at just before it hits the ground?


Ann and Bob play on a uniform seesaw. The seesaw is 4m long and Ann and Bob weigh 600N and 800N respectively. If both Ann and Bob start at one end of the seesaw and Bob starts to walk up the seesaw at 2m/s, after how long will the seesaw turn?


Describe how a crumple zone on a car reduces injury to the driver in a crash.


A runner of weight 588N runs at a speed of 8 miles/hr. What is the kinetic energy of the runner? Determine the power exerted by the runner over a distance of 10m.


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