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Frequency wavelength converter
Frequency and wavelength are two ways of saying the same thing, joined by the wave speed.
Why one number gives you the other
A wave’s speed, frequency and wavelength are tied together by a single relationship: speed = frequency × wavelength. Fix the speed and the other two are simply two ways of describing the same wave. Double the frequency and the wavelength halves.
wavelength = speed ÷ frequency
Some waves to place it against
| Wave | Frequency | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Mains hum (Europe) | 50 Hz | 5,996 km |
| AM radio | 1 MHz | 300 m |
| FM radio | 100 MHz | 3 m |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz | 12.5 cm |
| Microwave oven | 2.45 GHz | 12.2 cm |
| Red light | 430 THz | 700 nm |
| Violet light | 750 THz | 400 nm |
The speed is not always c. Light slows in glass or water, and sound travels at about 343 m/s in air rather than 300 million. Pick the right speed above or the answer will be right arithmetic about the wrong wave.