What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
1 Answer
Frequency and wavelength are two fundamental concepts in the study of waves, including electromagnetic waves like light and radio waves, as well as mechanical waves like sound waves. They are inversely proportional to each other and are related by the speed of the wave.
Frequency (f): This refers to the number of wave cycles or oscillations that occur in a unit of time. It is measured in Hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz is equal to 1 cycle per second. In other words, frequency tells you how many complete wave cycles pass a given point in one second.
Wavelength (λ): This is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase with each other, often measured from crest to crest or trough to trough. It is usually denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ) and is measured in units like meters (m).
The relationship between frequency and wavelength is given by the equation:
=
⋅
v=f⋅λ
Where:
v is the speed of the wave,
f is the frequency of the wave, and
λ is the wavelength of the wave.
In this equation, the speed of the wave is a constant characteristic of the medium through which the wave is traveling. In a vacuum, electromagnetic waves (like light) travel at the speed of light (
c), which is approximately
3
×
1
0
8
3×10
8
meters per second.
Because of this relationship, when the frequency of a wave increases, its wavelength decreases, and vice versa. This means that waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and waves with lower frequencies have longer wavelengths. This relationship is particularly evident when considering the electromagnetic spectrum, where various types of electromagnetic waves, from radio waves to gamma rays, have different frequencies and wavelengths.
Frequency (f): This refers to the number of wave cycles or oscillations that occur in a unit of time. It is measured in Hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz is equal to 1 cycle per second. In other words, frequency tells you how many complete wave cycles pass a given point in one second.
Wavelength (λ): This is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase with each other, often measured from crest to crest or trough to trough. It is usually denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ) and is measured in units like meters (m).
The relationship between frequency and wavelength is given by the equation:
=
⋅
v=f⋅λ
Where:
v is the speed of the wave,
f is the frequency of the wave, and
λ is the wavelength of the wave.
In this equation, the speed of the wave is a constant characteristic of the medium through which the wave is traveling. In a vacuum, electromagnetic waves (like light) travel at the speed of light (
c), which is approximately
3
×
1
0
8
3×10
8
meters per second.
Because of this relationship, when the frequency of a wave increases, its wavelength decreases, and vice versa. This means that waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and waves with lower frequencies have longer wavelengths. This relationship is particularly evident when considering the electromagnetic spectrum, where various types of electromagnetic waves, from radio waves to gamma rays, have different frequencies and wavelengths.