Wavelength (λ) is defined as the distance a sound travels in one complete period, in meters (m). An analogy is the wave formed in a pond when a stone is thrown into it. The space between two crests or two valleys would be the wavelength.
Wavelength depends on speed and frequency. The formula for calculating the speed of sound (c) is complex, although there is an empirical approximation:
where
Within the range of frequencies audible to humans, the wavelength ranges from approximately 1.7 cm to 17 m. It is therefore clear that the wavelength of a low-pitched sound (low frequency) is long, and that of a high-pitched sound (high frequency) is short. This characteristic explains phenomena such as diffraction and sound directionality, explained in more detail in other articles.
