Wave speed changes a lot between different places, like air and water. Let’s break it down:

1. Understanding the Wave Equation: The basic formula for waves is $v = fλ$. Here, $v$ means wave speed, $f$ is how often the waves happen (frequency), and $λ$ is the distance between each wave (wavelength).

2. Wave Speed in Air: In air, waves, like sound, travel slower. This is because the tiny particles are spread out more. For sound, the speed is about 343 meters per second.

3. Wave Speed in Water: On the other hand, in water, waves, like ripples, move faster—around 1,480 meters per second. This is because the particles are closer together.

These differences are important! They affect how we hear sounds and even how we feel waves when we swim!