Wavelength is the physical distance between two consecutive points of a wave that are in the same phase, such as two peaks or two troughs. It is inversely proportional to frequency: higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequencies have longer ones. The examples below assume sound traveling through air at about 343 meters per second.
- A 440 Hz sound (A4) has a wavelength of about 0.78 meters.
- A 50 Hz sub-bass note has a much longer wavelength, about 6.86 meters.
Wavelength helps explain how sound waves interact with physical spaces, which affects things like resonance, phase alignment, and acoustic treatment.
