Radio waves travel at 3.0 x 108 m/s. A radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 100 MHz. Calculate the wavelength of the radio waves.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
All equation deep-dives
Wave speed
Waves
AQA 8463
On the equation sheet
ORIGINAL
v = f x lambda
Almost every mark lost here is a unit conversion: kHz, MHz, cm and nm all need converting first.
Current GCSE 8463 policy: The full AQA GCSE Physics 8463 equation sheet is provided with both papers in 2026; use fluency practice to learn selection and rearrangement, not to memorise the list.
Board and spec code confirmed against AQA 8463 · registry checked 2026-07-17How this checking works
Know the equation
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| v | wave speed | m/s |
| f | frequency | Hz |
| lambda | wavelength | m |
Rearrangements
- f = v / lambda
- lambda = v / f
Apply it — mark your own working
Work each one out on paper first, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the marks you actually earned. That is exactly how you should mark past papers.
Q1
Do the calculation on paper first — then mark it.
Where the marks get lost
- Not converting the frequency: 1 kHz = 1000 Hz, 1 MHz = 1 000 000 Hz.
- Leaving the wavelength in cm or nm; convert to metres before substituting.
- Mixing up f and lambda when rearranging — write the rearranged form out first.
Exam tip: Convert every quantity to SI units (Hz, m, m/s) on your first line. Then the number you get out is already in metres or hertz with no extra conversion.
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Stuck on wave speed?
Everything here stays free. If wave speed is where the marks keep going, I teach it one to one from the mark schemes. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.