## color of light

$c=\lambda v$

Aurbal Popal
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

### color of light

What determines the color of light- the wavelength or the frequency? I keep seeing sources that contradict each other and I am a little confused. Are they just both dependent on each other or does one have more of an effect?

Hailey Boehm 2H
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am

### Re: color of light

Technically, they both determine the color of light. C = lamba x v shows how they are inversely proportional to the speed of light, c. Even though they both determine the color of light (they both will tell us essentially the same color on the spectrum), we most often use wavelength to determine the color of light simply because it is more convenient and the easier of the two to measure.

Katie Frei 1L
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### Re: color of light

The wavelength or the frequency can determine the color of light because of the equation c = wavelength x frequency. The color of light is more commonly identified by wavelength however, because this is seen based on the values on the electromagnetic spectrum in nm.

Peichung Chou 1A
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### Re: color of light

Considering the equation c = lambda * nu, the color of light is reliant on both wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the standard to describe what color it is though.

Patrick Cai 1L
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am

### Re: color of light

Prof. Lavelle has made measurements of light using the wavelength of light, for instance when he mentioned that the wavelengths of violet and red light are 400 and 700 nm, respectively. Wavelength is typically used to determine the color of light.

Vicky Lu 1L
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### Re: color of light

Both can be used to determine the color of visible light. You can identity the specific color of light by mainly by wavelength but if you know the wavelength you find the frequency of light and compare it to what color that would be as well, by the equation speed of light = frequency x wavelength. Together, wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional to one another where if one variable such as the frequency or wavelength increases the other variable will decreases in proportion so that the product which is the speed of light will still remain unchanged.

Jasmine Chow 1F
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### Re: color of light

I have looked at a few sites and many have stated though the frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to speed of light the wave length is often the indicator of what the color is.

Matthew Choi 2H
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### Re: color of light

If you look at a typical spectrum with the range of visible light, you will find that many spectrums use wavelength to differentiate between colors. However, since wavelength and frequency are inversely related, you can say that frequency also determines the color of light.

Karla_Ocampo 4E
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### Re: color of light

Hi! According to the book, the color of light depends on its frequency and wavelength; long wavelength radiation has a lower frequency than short wavelength radiation (p6, edition6).

Chem_Mod
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### Re: color of light

Color is often expressed in terms of wavelength, but since wavelength and frequency are inversely related, both can apply.

Danny Zhang 4L
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### Re: color of light

Both wavelength and frequency play a part in determining the color of light. It's just that visible spectrum diagrams always use wavelength to indicate the color.

Aakash Tammana 3H
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### Re: color of light

Color is interpreted based on the spectrum; we use wavelength because it's the easier of the two, vs frequency.