What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency of a wave on the electromagnetic spectrum?
The relationship between the wavelength and frequency of a wave on the electromagnetic spectrum is described by a fundamental equation:
c = λ * ν
Where:
- c is the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 3.00 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s),
- λ (lambda) is the wavelength of the wave, measured in meters,
- ν (nu) is the frequency of the wave, measured in Hertz (Hz).
To understand this relationship, it is helpful to visualize a wave. Picture a wave as a repeating pattern of crests and troughs. The wavelength is the distance between two adjacent crests or two adjacent troughs, while the frequency is the number of complete waves passing a certain point per unit of time.
Mathematically, the speed of light (c) in a vacuum is constant, meaning it does not depend on the frequency or wavelength of the wave. As a consequence, as the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa.
So, if you know the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave, you can calculate its frequency using the equation:
ν = c / λ
Similarly, if you know the frequency, you can determine the wavelength using:
λ = c / ν