986 Hz Wavelength

How Long Is a 986 Hz Wavelength?

A 986 Hz sound wave has a wavelength of 0.35 meters, 34.81 cm, 1.14 feet (1 feet and 1.7 inches) or 13.7 inches when traveling in air at 20°C (68°F).

The formula for the wavelenght is λ = c/f where:

  • c is the celerity (speed) of sound = 343.21 m/s or 1126.03 ft/s in air at 20°C (68°F).
  • f is the frequency = 986 Hz
which gives a wavelength λ of 0.35 meters, or 1.14 feet.

986 Hz Wavelength Depending on Temperature

The speed of sound in air depends on temperature. Here is how the wavelenght of a 986 Hz sound wave will vary according to temperature:

Temp (°C) Temp (°F) 986 Hz wavelength (cm)986 Hz wavelength (in)
-40-4031.042912.2216
-35-3131.374012.3519
-30-2231.701612.4809
-25-1332.025912.6086
-20-432.346912.7350
-15532.664812.8602
-101432.979612.9841
-52333.291513.1069
03233.600413.2285
54133.906513.3490
105034.209913.4685
155934.510713.5869
206834.808813.7042
257735.104413.8206
308635.397513.9360
359535.688214.0505
4010435.976614.1640

986 Hz Half Wavelength and Standing Waves

The half wavelength of a 986 Hz sound wave is 0.17 meters, 17.4 cm, 0.57 feet (0 feet and 6.85 inches) or 6.85 inches when travelling in air at 20°C (68°F).

Modes (or standing waves) will occur at 986 Hz in rooms where two opposing walls (axial mode), edges (tangential mode) or corners (oblique mode) are spaced by a distance d = nλ/2 where:

  • n is a natural (positive integer greater than or equal to 1)
  • λ is the 986 Hz wavelength = 0.35 meters, or 1.14 feet in air at 20°C (68°F).

986 Hz Standing Waves Distances

n Distance (m) Distance (ft)
10.170.57
20.351.14
30.521.71
40.702.28
50.872.86

We typically don't treat rooms for standing waves above 300 Hz.

Given the relatively small 986 Hz half wavelength, you can treat your room by using thick acoustic foam. This will absorb frequencies as low as 250 Hz, and all the way up to 20,000 Hz.

How To Convert 986 Hz To ms

A Hz (Hertz) is a cycle (or period) per second.

Because a 986 Hz wave will ocillate 986 times per second, we can find the time of a single cycle (or period) with the formula p = 1/f where:

  • f is the frequency of the wave = 986 Hz

The result will be expressed in seconds, so let's multiply by 1000 to get miliseconds:

1 / 986 Hz * 1000 = 1.01 ms.