Sine Wave Explorer
Change the amplitude, frequency, wavelength and phase of a sine wave, travel the spectrum from AM radio to gamma rays, then add a second wave to see how waves add up or cancel out.
How to use this tool controls and what to look for
Start with one wave and change one thing at a time, then scroll down and add a second wave to see interference.
Controls to change
- Amplitude: make the wave taller or shorter. It changes the power, not the frequency.
- Frequency: raise or lower it (with its unit) and the wavelength updates to match. You can type a wavelength instead.
- Presets: jump to AM radio, FM radio, 2.4, 5 or 6 GHz Wi-Fi, visible light, X-rays and more.
- Quick picks: under Phase of wave 2, set wave 2 to 0°, 90°, 120°, 180° or 270° behind wave 1, or use the phase slider.
- Amplitude of wave 2: make the second wave weaker than the first.
What to look for
- Frequency and wavelength always move in opposite directions: 2.4 GHz is about 12.5 cm, 5 GHz about 6 cm.
- At 0° the two waves add up (constructive, +6 dB for equal waves). At 180° they cancel out.
- With a weaker wave 2, a 180° shift no longer cancels completely: the dip is shallower. That is what a real multipath fade looks like.
About this tool
Every radio signal, Wi-Fi included, is built from sine waves. This explorer lets you change a wave's amplitude, frequency, wavelength and phase and see what each one means, then add a second wave and watch the two add up or cancel out. Presets take the wave across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, from AM and FM radio through Wi-Fi, infrared, visible light and ultraviolet to X-rays and gamma rays, with each wave's photon energy. The step-by-step working shows the maths behind the result, including the change in strength in decibels.
What you'll learn
- What amplitude, frequency, wavelength and phase mean for a radio wave
- How frequency and wavelength are linked by the speed of light, from 300 m AM radio waves and 12.5 cm Wi-Fi waves to gamma rays smaller than an atom
- Why two equal waves in phase give +6 dB, and in opposite phase cancel out
- Why this interference is behind multipath fading and beamforming
Common questions
What is the wavelength of Wi-Fi?
About 12.5 cm at 2.4 GHz, 6 cm at 5 GHz and 5 cm at 6 GHz. Wavelength is the speed of light divided by the frequency. Visible light is about 400 to 700 nm, some 200,000 times shorter.
What does phase mean for Wi-Fi?
Phase is where a wave is in its cycle, in degrees. It only matters when waves meet: two copies half a cycle (180°) apart cancel, which is why moving a device a few centimetres can change the signal.
Why do two equal waves give +6 dB and not +3 dB?
When they are exactly in phase their amplitudes add, and twice the amplitude is four times the power, or +6 dB. Two signals with random phases add up to about +3 dB on average.
Free for private and educational use. This interactive model is a simplified teaching aid and may contain mistakes. It is provided as is, without warranty. Use it to understand the concepts, not as a substitute for a site survey, vendor documentation or professional design advice.