Meaning & use
sound wavelength
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalphysics
The distance between two consecutive points of the same phase on a sound wave, such as from one compression to the next.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a sound wavelength' or 'sound wavelengths'. Often used with 'of': the sound wavelength of a note.
Patterns
- sound wavelength of something
- a sound wavelength of X meters
- the sound wavelength
The sound wavelength of a low bass note is much longer than that of a high whistle.
Engineers measured the sound wavelength to design the concert hall's acoustics.
At 20°C, a sound wavelength of 343 Hz is about one meter.
Word forms
| plural | sound wavelengths |
|---|
Common combinations
- long sound wavelength
- Low-frequency sounds have a long sound wavelength.
- short sound wavelength
- High-pitched sounds have a short sound wavelength.
- measure the sound wavelength
- Scientists measure the sound wavelength to understand room acoustics.
- sound wavelength of a note
- The sound wavelength of a note depends on its frequency.
Synonyms and how they differ
- acoustic wavelength
- A more technical term used in acoustics; it means the same but is less common in general physics.
Word family
- wavelength noun
- The distance between successive peaks of any wave, not just sound.
- sound wave noun
- A vibration that travels through a medium as a wave.
Commonly confused: sound wavelength or frequency?
sound wavelength vs frequency
Frequency is how many waves pass per second (measured in hertz); wavelength is the physical distance between waves. They are related but not the same.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'sound wavelength' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Wavelength refers to distance, so 'shorter' is correct. 'Louder' refers to amplitude, 'faster' to speed, and 'higher' to frequency, so those don't fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sound wavelength”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.