Paritian

Physics

Wavelength Calculator

Wavelength from frequency and wave speed, including the quarter-wave length.

Results

Wavelength 2.997925 m
Wavelength 299.7925 cm
Length 0.749481 m
Frequency for that wavelength 99.930819 MHz
Speed from that wavelength and frequency 300,000,000.000 m/s
Period — how long one cycle takes 0.000000010000 s
Angular frequency 628,318,530.718 rad/s
Wave number 2.094395 1/m

What this tool does

Wavelength is how far a wave travels during one cycle, so it is the wave speed divided by the frequency. Use 299 792 458 m/s for radio and light, or about 343 m/s for sound in air at room temperature; the quarter wavelength is the figure antenna builders need.

Formula

λ = v ÷ f

Variables

SymbolMeaningUnit
fFrequencyMHz
vWave speedm/s
wlWavelength, if you know itm
LWavelengthm
LCWavelengthcm
QWLengthm
FWFrequency for that wavelengthMHz
VWSpeed from that wavelength and frequencym/s
PDPeriod — how long one cycle takess
AWAngular frequencyrad/s
KWWave number1/m

Worked example

  • Frequency100 MHz
  • Wave speed299,792,458 m/s
  • Wavelength, if you know it3 m
  • Wavelength2.997925 m
  • Wavelength299.7925 cm
  • Length0.749481 m
  • Frequency for that wavelength99.930819 MHz
  • Speed from that wavelength and frequency300,000,000.000 m/s
  • Period — how long one cycle takes0.000000010000 s
  • Angular frequency628,318,530.718 rad/s
  • Wave number2.094395 1/m

Limitations

  • The formula assumes ideal conditions: no friction losses, no air resistance and no efficiency losses unless you enter them.
  • Mixing units is the most common source of error. Convert every input to the units shown next to each field before calculating.