Wave speed

You should know and be able to use the relationship between wave speed, frequency and wavelength.

How fast do waves travel?

The speed of a wave - its wave speed - is related to its frequency and wavelength, according to this equation:

wave speed (m/s) = frequency (hertz, Hz) × wavelength (metre, m)

For example, a wave with a frequency of 100Hz and a wavelength of 2m travels at 100 × 2 = 200m/s.

Check your understanding of the equation by having a go at this activity.