Waves & Oscillations Calculators — Frequency, Wavelength & SHM
Calculate period, frequency, wavelength, wave speed (v = fλ), and amplitude. Solve pendulum, spring, and simple harmonic motion problems with worked examples.
Calculators Coming Soon
We're building waves & oscillations calculators with real formulas, step-by-step explanations, and educational articles. Meanwhile, explore the guide below or browse a related category.
Understanding Waves & Oscillations
Waves transfer energy from one place to another without transferring matter. The fundamental wave equation v = fλ connects wave speed, frequency, and wavelength for every type of wave. A guitar string vibrating at 330 Hz with a wavelength of 1.04 m produces a wave traveling at 343 m/s — the speed of sound in air. Understanding this relationship is the key to solving any wave problem.
Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is the foundation of oscillation physics. A mass on a spring with spring constant k = 200 N/m and mass m = 0.5 kg oscillates with a period of T = 2π√(m/k) = 0.314 seconds, or about 3.2 cycles per second. Pendulums, vibrating strings, and even atoms in a crystal lattice all exhibit SHM. The energy in these systems oscillates between kinetic and potential forms, with total mechanical energy remaining constant.
Wave physics connects directly to sound and acoustics (longitudinal waves in air) and optics and light (electromagnetic transverse waves). Phenomena like resonance, interference, diffraction, and the Doppler effect all build on the wave properties covered by these calculators.