Frequency vs Wavelength
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Frequency vs Wavelength
Hey everyone I have a clarification question. I know that we organize and separate waves by their wavelength, but does the frequency have any effect on what type of wave it is? I understand what each term means and its significance to solving equations, but I was just wondering if frequency has a different role in defining waves.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Yes, a wavelength with a higher frequency is a shorter wavelength and higher energy (ex. UV light), and a wavelength with a lower frequency has a longer wavelength and lower energy (ex. visible light).
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Hi, a higher frequency will cause shorter wavelengths and vice versa. They are inversely proportional therefore when the wave frequency is high the wavelength will be short and if the frequency is low then the wave will be long. Hope this answers your question.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
I noticed in a previous lecture when prof was going over the equations like E=hv or c=λv the letter "v" was written with a bit of a curve. Is this intentional so we know that this V is referring to frequency and not velocity as it would in other equations, or is that just prof's handwriting?
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Hi! Wavelength and frequency are related to each other in that higher frequency has a shorter wavelength and a low frequency has a long wavelength. As you mentioned, the difference between these wavelengths is what defines what kind of wave you are dealing with (UV, visible light, x-ray, etc.).
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Just like everyone has mentioned above frequency and wavelength have an inverse relationship. When you want to increase the frequency the wavelength will decrease, while if the frequency decreases the wavelength will grow bigger. The difference in wavelengths is how you determine the types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Kandyce Lance 2L wrote:I noticed in a previous lecture when prof was going over the equations like E=hv or c=λv the letter "v" was written with a bit of a curve. Is this intentional so we know that this V is referring to frequency and not velocity as it would in other equations, or is that just prof's handwriting?
according to this website, v in those equations is actually the Greek letter nu so it won't get confused with velocity! https://www.chemteam.info/Electrons/Lig ... ions1.html
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other. High frequency, short wavelength, and higher energy level. Low frequency, long wavelength, and lower energy level. Electromagnetic waves differ from each other in wavelength. A spectrum is the range of wavelengths or frequencies for wave phenomena.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Like everyone else is saying Wavelength and Frequency are inversely related. When you have a greater frequency it results in a shorter wavelength and vice versa. The frequency also determines what kind of wave it is. Higher frequency=higher energy and lower frequency=lower energy.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Yes! Wavelength is in a sense dependent on frequency. Higher frequencies have higher energy thus determining wavelength
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Yes, wavelength and frequency are inverse; however, frequency and energy are proportional shown by the formula E=(frequency)h since h is a constant.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Brianna Martilla 2C wrote:Hey everyone I have a clarification question. I know that we organize and separate waves by their wavelength, but does the frequency have any effect on what type of wave it is? I understand what each term means and its significance to solving equations, but I was just wondering if frequency has a different role in defining waves.
Hi Brianna!
I know this must be a little confusing and that the basic concept is understandable, but its good that you want more clarification and understanding of the concept that we are learning! As many of our peers have clarified previously, The longer the wavelength, the shorter the frequency, and the shorter the wavelength, the greater/higher the frequency!
But let me break it down a little more, and it's going to be a long read, but I hope this helps with your personal understanding:
A wavelength by definition is the measure from peak to peak of each wave, and that is your wave length, and you want to calculate how many wavelengths occur in one second for the frequency. The different types of waves go from biggest to smallest in terms of length of the wave (radio, microwave, infared, visible light, ultraviolet, gamma waves [which are x-rays and y-waves I believe if I got the context clues correctly], and cosmic rays). As you go down the spectrum to shorter wavelengths, the frequency get higher and higher as more waves occur within a specific time unit, usually a second. So just as the length of the wave also defines waves, the frequency of a wave is specific to each type of wave, so it helps us distinguish the different waves.
If you were wondering as to why when the wavelengths shorten, the frequency increases, this is where you tie it to the classical mechanics description of light, in which the speed of light (in a vacuum) is equal to wavelength times frequency (c = lambda[the upside down y thing] * frequency [the curvy v]). Since the combination between the wavelength and frequency must ALWAYS give the product of c ( = 2.998 * 10^8), then you must adjust as such. So, if your wavelength decreases (shortens) then your frequency must increase to make up for the smaller wavelength to give you c. If your wavelength increases, then your frequency will be shorter to accommodate to that change, and vice versa. So, wavelength and frequency balance each other out as they will always multiply to give the speed of light!
I hope that helps!!!
Last edited by Sarah Huang 3A on Sun Oct 18, 2020 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
The fundamental understanding of the relationship between frequency and wavelength is that they are inversely related to each other, meaning that with a high frequency comes a short wavelength and vice versa. Going deeper into the topic, energy is also included in this as it is inversely related to wavelength but proportional to frequency. To be more specific, energy will decrease as wavelength increases and increase as frequency increases. Thus, a high frequency denotes a shorter wavelength but with high energy. On the other hand, a low frequency involves a high wavelength but with low energy.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Hi Brianna!
Yes, frequency does have an effect on what type of wave something is, because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional! Each wave type has a unique set of frequencies AND wavelengths that accompany it. Reference the equation c = vλ, where c is a constant ~3.0e8 meters/second. As wavelength increases, frequency must decrease, and vice versa, in order for the above relationship to hold true. Hope that helps!
Yes, frequency does have an effect on what type of wave something is, because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional! Each wave type has a unique set of frequencies AND wavelengths that accompany it. Reference the equation c = vλ, where c is a constant ~3.0e8 meters/second. As wavelength increases, frequency must decrease, and vice versa, in order for the above relationship to hold true. Hope that helps!
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Yes, your statement is correct. The speed of light is constant; as such, it becomes easy to see how frequency and wavelength are related. If a wave is oscillating more quickly (i.e. has a higher frequency), then that means that the wavelength is going to be shorter. The two are inversely related!
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
The frequency is the number of waves that pass a point in space during any time interval, usually per one second. The wavelength is the distance between two crests. A higher frequency results in a shorter wavelength and vice versa.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Hi! Wavelength and frequency are inverses when one goes up the other goes down; frequency and energy are proportional shown by the formula E=(frequency)h. h is a constant
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Frequency and wavelength are inversely related, so as wavelength increases, frequency decreases and vice versa.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
There is an inverse relationship with wavelength and frequency. When the wavelength is longer, the frequency is weaker because during a segment of time, the wave will hit a certain point less times than if the wavelength were shorter. On the other hand, when the wavelength is shorter, the frequency is stronger because the wave will be hitting a point more times within a certain period of time.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other. The greater the frequency, the shorter the wavelength and vice versa. Also, frequency is directly proportional to energy.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
As said, frequency plays a role in characteristics of waves because if the frequency is higher, then the wave will be shorter. And if the frequency is lower, the wave will be higher because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional as shown by the equation.
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Re: Frequency vs Wavelength
Yeah! Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other. A longer wavelength means a shorter frequency and a shorter wavelength means a higher frequency.
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