Compute wavelength, frequency, period, Doppler shift and standing waves.
A waves and sound calculator solves problems involving wave speed, frequency, wavelength, Doppler effect, sound intensity (decibels), and resonance frequencies of strings and air columns. These cover the wave physics problems in acoustics, music theory, ultrasound imaging, and basic seismology.
The wave equation v = fλ links speed, frequency, and wavelength for every type of wave — sound, water waves, light, radio waves. The Doppler effect describes the apparent frequency shift when source and observer move relative to each other.
v = f\lambda \;;\; L_{dB} = 10 \log_{10}\left(\frac{I}{I_0}\right)
Inputs: Wavelength of an A4 musical note (440 Hz) in air
The Doppler effect: each successive wave is emitted from a position slightly closer to you, compressing the wavefronts and reducing wavelength. The observed frequency = f × v/(v − v_source). A 500 Hz siren on an ambulance moving toward you at 30 m/s sounds at 500 × 343/(343 − 30) = 548 Hz; receding it drops to 460 Hz.
Human hearing perceives loudness logarithmically — doubling the intensity (10× the pressure amplitude) feels roughly twice as loud, not 10× as loud. The dB scale matches this perception: 0 dB = threshold of hearing, +10 dB = perceived "twice as loud" (10× intensity), normal conversation 60 dB, jet engine 130 dB (threshold of pain). 60 dB is 1 million times more intense than 0 dB.
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