# The relationship between frequency and wavelength of each electromagnetic wave

### Relationship Between Wavelength and Frequency

Electromagnetic waves always travel at the same speed (, km per this relationship to figure out the wavelength or frequency of any electromagnetic. Electromagnetic radiation (EM) is described in terms of its wavelength, frequency, The relationship between wavelength and frequency (Original Figure by. Describe the relationship between frequency and wavelength of each electromagnetic wave. Ask for details; Follow; Report. by Bby15

Again this is just a label, or shorthand, in order to allow us to work quickly with the equation. Wavelengths are usually measured in metres. Providing we know any two of the three quantities we can find the other one, either directly or by rearranging the equation. The next section solves the equation as it is, and there is a calculator for frequency, wavelength and speed here. Solving the Equation In this example we will consider the frequency of radio waves.

Radio waves are just another form of "light", i. Let's say we have a radio with a dial that is only marked in MHz. This is a measurement of frequency and we note that 1 MHz is the same as 1 million hertz the M in MHz stands for " mega ", which means million.

### Speed, Frequency and Wavelength - How they are related, with examples

We are told of a radio broadcast we want to hear but we are only given the wavelength of the station and not the frequency.

The wavelength we are given is 3. We know the speed of light and we know the wavelength so it's now an easy matter to plug these numbers into the equation and find the frequency of the radio station: This gives us a frequency of 92 MHz, which is found in the FM range of most domestic radios. Visible Light The wavelengths of visible light are measured in nanometres, nm billionths of a metre but the equation works just the same.

When we look at a light source the colours we see are dictated by the frequency of the light.

These frequencies are very high by everyday standards. Have a look around the room and find something that's the colour red. As you do this, you will notice that the wavelength of the wave becomes shorter.

Frequency versus Wavelength

Clearly, there is a relationship between wavelength and frequency and now we will try to find out exactly what this relationship is. Period is the time taken for one complete oscillation.

Since frequency measures the number of times that a wave oscillates per unit time, it follows that Since a wave undergoes one complete oscillation during one period, all points in the wave return back to the same values after one period. In other words, during one period, a crest travels to the position that its preceding crest was occupying one period before, and so on.

The speed of the wave is the distance that the wave travels per unit time. Considering that the wave travels a distance of one wavelength during one period, We know that.

## Describe the relationship between frequency and wavelength of each electromagnetic wave

So we can write the above equation as: That is, the speed of a wave is equal to its frequency multiplied by the wavelength. This is the relationship between wavelength and frequency.

This speed is a fundamental constant in physics, and it is denoted by the letter.

So, this equation is sometimes written as for electromagnetic travelling through vacuum. This equation is very useful. For example, we know that electromagnetic waves can slow down when they travel from air into glass. The speed and wavelength of a wave changes when it travels from one medium into another. This is explained with an animation in the video below:

• Relationship Between Wavelength and Frequency
• Communications System
• Light: Electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic spectrum and photons