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Frequency refers to the vibration of some object that is creating a wave; in the case of electromagnetic waves, it would normally be an electron. Let us then imagine a vibrating electron. Every time it vibrates, it produces a wave. If it vibrates a million times a second it produces a million waves. The electromagnetic radiation always travels at the same speed, the speed of light, sometimes known as c, which is equal to 300,000 kilometers per second. So if there are a million waves per second, they will fit into the space of 300,000 kilometers, which makes each wave a third of a kilometer in length. Increase the frequency and you increase the number of waves, but the total distance remains the same, so you have to fit more waves into the same distance, hence, each individual wave is smaller, meaning it has a shorter wavelength. So if the electron is now vibrating at a billion times a second, it produces a billion waves, and they still have to fit into 300,000 kilometers, hence, each wave is now a third of a meter in length, rather than a third of a kilometer. If the electron vibrates at a trillion times a second, the waves are then a third of a millimeter in length. And so forth.

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What happens to the wave when you decrease the wavelength or increase the wavelength?

When you decrease the wavelength of a wave, its frequency and energy increase. This is known as blue shift and is common in light waves. Conversely, when you increase the wavelength of a wave, its frequency and energy decrease. This is known as red shift and is also observed in light waves.


As the frequencies of the pure spectral colors increasewhat will happen to the wavelength of the colors?

As the frequencies of pure spectral colors increase, the wavelengths of the colors will decrease. This is because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional in electromagnetic waves, according to the equation λν = c, where λ is the wavelength, ν is the frequency, and c is the speed of light.


Can you change the wavelength of waves in a ripple tank?

Yes, you can change the wavelength of waves in a ripple tank by adjusting the frequency of the wave generator. Increasing the frequency will decrease the wavelength, while decreasing the frequency will increase the wavelength of the waves produced in the tank.


Do waves with the shortest wavelength have the slowest frequencies?

No, waves with shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies. The wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency, meaning shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies.


How does wavelength increase?

As wavelength increases, the distance between two consecutive peaks of a wave also increases. This means that fewer waves pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, resulting in a decrease in frequency. In the electromagnetic spectrum, longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies, such as radio waves, while shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies, like gamma rays.

Related Questions

What happens to the wave when you decrease the wavelength or increase the wavelength?

When you decrease the wavelength of a wave, its frequency and energy increase. This is known as blue shift and is common in light waves. Conversely, when you increase the wavelength of a wave, its frequency and energy decrease. This is known as red shift and is also observed in light waves.


As the frequencies of the pure spectral colors increasewhat will happen to the wavelength of the colors?

As the frequencies of pure spectral colors increase, the wavelengths of the colors will decrease. This is because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional in electromagnetic waves, according to the equation λν = c, where λ is the wavelength, ν is the frequency, and c is the speed of light.


What happens to the you increase the wavelength?

Remember that wavelength x frequency = speed of the wave.If you increase the wavelength, the frequency will decrease - since the speed of most waves is more or less independent of the frequency or wavelength.


Can you change the wavelength of waves in a ripple tank?

Yes, you can change the wavelength of waves in a ripple tank by adjusting the frequency of the wave generator. Increasing the frequency will decrease the wavelength, while decreasing the frequency will increase the wavelength of the waves produced in the tank.


Do waves with the shortest wavelength have the slowest frequencies?

No, waves with shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies. The wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency, meaning shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies.


How does wavelength increase?

As wavelength increases, the distance between two consecutive peaks of a wave also increases. This means that fewer waves pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, resulting in a decrease in frequency. In the electromagnetic spectrum, longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies, such as radio waves, while shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies, like gamma rays.


How would the wavelength of waves traveling with the same speed change if the frequency of the waves increase?

The speed of a wave is equal to the wavelength divided by the frequency (speed = wavelength/frequency). So if the frequency of the wave increases, the wavelength will decrease.


How wavelength of waves traveling with the same speed would change if the frequency of waves increase?

The speed of a wave is equal to the wavelength divided by the frequency (speed = wavelength/frequency). So if the frequency of the wave increases, the wavelength will decrease.


How the wavelength of waves traveling with the same speed would change if the frequency of the waves increase?

The speed of a wave is equal to the wavelength divided by the frequency (speed = wavelength/frequency). So if the frequency of the wave increases, the wavelength will decrease.


What happens to light waves along the visible spectrum moving from red to violet?

As light waves move from red to violet along the visible spectrum, their wavelengths decrease and their frequencies increase. Red light has longer wavelengths and lower frequencies, while violet light has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies. This shift in wavelength is perceived as a shift in color by our eyes.


How does the energy assoicated with waves change wave length changes?

As the wavelength of a wave decreases, the energy associated with the wave increases. This is because the energy of a wave is directly proportional to its frequency, and since frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength (wavelength = speed of wave / frequency), a decrease in wavelength results in an increase in frequency and energy.


When light waves are stretched by an object moving away from us?

The light waves are redshifted, meaning their wavelengths increase and their frequencies decrease. This effect is due to the Doppler effect, where the motion of the object causes a shift in the observed wavelength of light.