## Wavelength

$\lambda=\frac{h}{p}$

405404782 Gabriel Rigole 4F
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:18 am

### Wavelength

So what is the smallest detectable wavelength?

Ashley Kao 1H
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Wavelength

I think that the smallest detectable wavelength is a gamma ray. This can be seen on the scale looking at wavelengths from shortest to longest. The order from shortest to longest is a gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet ray, visible light, infarred, then radio.

ABombino_2J
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Wavelength

The smallest detectable wavelength is a gamma ray at 10^-14 meters. Professor Lavelle said anything smaller than 10^-15 meters is irrelevant and we should consider it to have an undetectable wavelength.

Gabriel Ordonez 2K
Posts: 113
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Wavelength

Some context is needed for this question because you could be talking about the smallest detectable visible wavelength or the smallest detectable wavelength in the entire electromagnetic spectrum. For the former, violet would be the smallest detectable visible wavelength at 380 nm due to its higher frequency. For the latter, gamma rays would be regarded as the smallest detectable wavelength (fun fact: gamma rays are affiliated with nuclear energy). Gamma rays have wavelengths less than 1 nm with a range of frequencies greater than 3x10^17 s-1. I hope this helped.

Marty Hockey
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 am

### Re: Wavelength

What is the equation used to determine the wavelength of gamma rays? Used for problem 1B.5

Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Wavelength

In terms of quantifying a wavelength as "measurable" or not, Professor Lavelle stated that anything with a wavelength of 10^-15 or higher should be considered while preforming calculations.

Kennedi2J
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:20 am

### Re: Wavelength

Does anyone have a picture of the slide Dr Lavelle showed in class with infrared radiaton experimental data?