Wave Speed Calculator

Your details

General uses the universal wave equation. The other modes derive speed from the medium properties first.
Rearrange the equation to solve for the unknown you need.
Number of complete wave cycles per second.
Distance between two successive crests (or equivalent points) of the wave.
Wave speedAt or above speed of sound in air
343.04m/s
Wave speed1,234.94km/h
As % of speed of light0.000114%
Wave period (T)0.003906s
Wavelength1.34m
Frequency256Hz
Wavenumber (k)0.7463m-1
Angular frequency (omega)1,608.4954rad/s
343.04 m/s
Sub-sonic<343Sonic range343-1480Fast (>water)1480-5000Very fast (>steel)5000+

Wave speed: 343.04 m/s

  • This wave travels at 343.04 m/s (1,234.94 km/h).
  • That is 1 times the speed of sound in air at 20 C (343 m/s).
  • It is 0.0001% of the speed of light in a vacuum (299,792,458 m/s).
  • One complete cycle takes 0.003906 s (period T = 1 / f).
  • The wavenumber is 0.7463 m-1 (spatial cycles per metre).
  • Rearrange v = f x lambda to find any unknown: lambda = v / f or f = v / lambda.

Next stepSwitch the "Solve for" selector to find frequency or wavelength instead of speed.

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