Problem 1A.3

[Isabelle Fontanilla 1I]

Can someone explain why the answer to this problem is: c) "The extent of the change in the electrical field at a given point decreases"? I know that the other choices are wrong, but I don't know how to explain that this choice is right. The problem reads: "Which of the following happens when the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation decreases?"

[305008749]

According to the solutions manual, "the electrical field corresponds to the amplitude; as the frequency decreases, the waves broaden and the extent of the change (the slope of the wave) decreases." I hope this helps!

[Faith Fredlund 1H]

As electromagnetic radiation decreases, the wavelength becomes shorter and therefore the distance between each crest grows. Because the distance between each peak is longer, the over slope of the wavelength becomes less severe and disturbs less of the magnetic field. There are less changes of peak to trough in a given distance as the frequency decreases and the wavelength gets longer; decreasing the overall space the wavelength is affecting.

[Vanadium Wang 4H]

The electric field refers to the electromagnetic wave, more specifically its amplitude (height of wave). When frequency decreases, the wavelength (distance between peaks) broadens thus decreasing the change in the electrical field at any given point.