Wavelength

Wavelength is the physical distance between two consecutive points of the same phase in a sound wave, such as two successive compressions. It is inversely proportional to frequency: a 100 Hz sound in air at 20°C has a wavelength of about 3.4 m, while a 4000 Hz sound measures only 0.086 m. Wavelength is critical in acoustic design because absorbers, diffusers, and barriers are most effective when their dimensions are comparable to or larger than the wavelength of the target frequency. This explains why bass traps need to be much larger than high-frequency absorbers. Understanding wavelength helps designers choose appropriate treatment depths and predict diffraction around obstacles.