The physics
Wavelength is the physical distance between wave crests: wave speed divided by frequency. For light and radio, speed is the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s); for sound in air it's about 343 m/s.
Wavelength of 5 MHz ultrasound in soft tissue (1,540 m/s)
Answer: wavelength = 0.000308 m (wavelength 0.0308 cm).
What we know
- Wave speed: 1540 m/s
- Frequency: 5 MHz = 5000000 Hz (converted to the unit the formula takes)
1,540 m/s is the conventional average speed of sound in soft tissue used by ultrasound scanners.
Step by step
- Given
- v = 1540 m/s, f = 5000000 Hz
- Formula
- λ = v / f
- Substitute
- λ = 1540 / 5000000
- Result
- λ = 0.000308 m
All results
| Wavelength | 0.000308 m |
|---|---|
| Wavelength | 0.0308 cm |
Open the wavelength calculator with these numbers → and change any of them.