Find audio wavelength or frequency in seconds today. Choose air, water, metal, or custom speed. See period, wavenumber, and angular frequency instantly here now.
| Scenario | Medium | Input | Typical result |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 musical note | Air at 20°C | f = 440 Hz | λ ≈ 0.78 m |
| Human ultrasound cleaner | Water | f = 40 kHz | λ ≈ 0.037 m |
| Low rumble | Air at 20°C | f = 10 Hz | λ ≈ 34.3 m |
| High tone | Air at 0°C | f = 10 kHz | λ ≈ 0.033 m |
The core relationship for a traveling sound wave is:
This calculator also reports:
Audio wavelength guide
Audio wavelength is the distance a sound wave travels during one full cycle. It links pitch to space: lower frequencies have longer wavelengths, while higher frequencies pack cycles closer together in practice. In air near room conditions, wavelength ranges from about 17 m at 20 Hz to roughly 1.7 cm at 20 kHz.
The calculator uses a speed of sound for the selected medium. Typical reference values are about 343 m/s in dry air at 20°C, around 1480 m/s in fresh water, and near 5960 m/s in steel. Because wavelength equals speed divided by frequency, the same tone stretches much longer in solids and liquids.
In air, speed rises with temperature because molecules move faster. A handy approximation is c ≈ 331.3 + 0.606·T, where T is °C. That means air at 0°C is near 331 m/s, while 30°C is near 349 m/s. A 440 Hz tone shifts from ~0.75 m to ~0.79 m across that change.
Human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but everyday audio often sits between 80 Hz and 8,000 Hz. The concert pitch A4 is 440 Hz, giving λ ≈ 0.78 m in air at 20°C. Bass at 100 Hz yields about 3.43 m, while 1,000 Hz is about 0.343 m.
Wavelength is central to room acoustics, loudspeaker placement, and noise control. A quarter-wavelength boundary can strongly reinforce or cancel a tone, so long bass waves interact with walls and corners. In PA systems, knowing wavelength helps estimate spacing for coherent coverage and avoid comb filtering.
This tool supports Hz, kHz, and MHz for frequency plus common length units for wavelength. Internally, it converts inputs to SI units to keep results consistent. It also reports period T = 1/f, angular frequency ω = 2πf, and wavenumber k = 2π/λ for wave analysis and modeling.
After calculation, review both primary and secondary outputs. If you entered frequency, check wavelength in multiple units and compare to familiar scales like speaker size or room dimensions. If you entered wavelength, verify the implied frequency fits your source. Use the CSV or PDF export to document assumptions and share setups.
FAQs
Wavelength is the physical length of one repeating cycle of a sound wave. It equals the wave speed in the medium divided by frequency, so it changes with both the medium and temperature.
Pick the medium that matches where the sound travels most. Use air for normal listening, water for underwater acoustics, and a solid for structural vibration. If you know a better value, enter a custom speed.
In air, warmer temperatures increase sound speed, which increases wavelength at the same frequency. Using the temperature input improves accuracy, especially for low frequencies where small speed changes produce noticeable wavelength differences.
Yes. Switch the mode to “Frequency from Wavelength,” enter the wavelength and its unit, and choose the medium. The calculator rearranges the same relation f = v / λ.
Wavenumber k describes how rapidly phase changes with distance: k = 2π/λ. Angular frequency ω describes how rapidly phase changes with time: ω = 2πf. They’re useful in wave equations and signal analysis.
Real rooms add reflections, humidity variations, and airflow, and speakers are not ideal point sources. In ducts or enclosures, boundaries force standing waves that shift effective wavelength patterns compared with free-field assumptions.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.