Higher frequency sound is associated with which change in wavelength?

Higher frequency sound is associated with which change in wavelength?

• A. Longer wavelength
• B. No change
• C. Shorter wavelength
• D. Variable wavelength

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that wavelength and frequency are inversely related in a given medium. The relationship is v = fλ, where v is the speed of sound, f is frequency, and λ is wavelength. In air under ordinary conditions, the speed of sound is nearly constant, so changing the frequency changes the wavelength inversely: higher frequency means a shorter wavelength. For example, at about 340 m/s, a 340 Hz sound has a wavelength of roughly 1 meter, while increasing the frequency to 680 Hz gives about 0.5 meters. The other options don’t fit because they’d require either a longer wavelength at higher frequency, no change in wavelength, or a wavelength that varies without a consistent pattern—none of which align with the constant-speed relationship.

The key idea is that wavelength and frequency are inversely related in a given medium. The relationship is v = fλ, where v is the speed of sound, f is frequency, and λ is wavelength. In air under ordinary conditions, the speed of sound is nearly constant, so changing the frequency changes the wavelength inversely: higher frequency means a shorter wavelength. For example, at about 340 m/s, a 340 Hz sound has a wavelength of roughly 1 meter, while increasing the frequency to 680 Hz gives about 0.5 meters. The other options don’t fit because they’d require either a longer wavelength at higher frequency, no change in wavelength, or a wavelength that varies without a consistent pattern—none of which align with the constant-speed relationship.