Wave Movement  

Wave Measurements                                                                                                          Return to Physics Index

Waves can be measured in wave lengths, speed and frequency. Each measurement of wave motion can be calculated with a formula.

Wave Speed

The speed of a wave can be calculated as:  Speed = Wavelength X Frequency or Speed = Distance/Time.

Example: 1 Wavelength and Frequency are Known

Wavelength = λ

Frequency = Hz      Speed = λ X Hz

λ = 4 m

Hz = 2 Hz

Speed = 4 m x 2 Hz

Speed = 4 m x 2/s

Speed = 8 m/s

Example : 2 Distance and Time are Known

Distance = Metrics Units such as Meters or m

Time = Seconds or s

Speed = Distance/Time

Distance = 10 meters

Time = 2 seconds

Speed = 10 m/ 2 s

Speed = 5 m/s

 

 
Wave Frequency

Wave Frequency can be calculated by dividing Wave Speed over Wave Length.

Example:

Hz = m/s/λ

Speed = 20m/s

Wavelength λ = 5 m

Hz = 20 m/s / 5 m

Hz = 4/s or 4 Hz

 

 
Wavelength 

Wavelength can be calculated by dividing Wave Speed by Wave Frequency.

Example:

Speed = Distance/Seconds

Frequency = Number/Per Time

d = Distance

t = Time

n = Number

λ = Wavelength

λ = d/t / n/t

d = 20 m/s

n = 10/s

λ = 20 m/s / 10/s

λ = 2 m