Frequency Equation:
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The frequency equation relates the frequency of a wave to its wavelength and the speed at which the wave travels. For electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, the speed is the speed of light (c ≈ 3×10⁸ m/s).
The calculator uses the frequency equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength - as wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and vice versa.
Details: Calculating frequency from wavelength is essential in physics, engineering, and telecommunications for designing systems that use electromagnetic waves.
Tips: Enter wavelength in meters and speed in m/s (default is speed of light). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
A: They are inversely proportional - higher frequency means shorter wavelength, and vice versa.
Q2: What are typical units for frequency?
A: Hertz (Hz) is the standard unit, with common multiples being kHz, MHz, GHz.
Q3: Does this equation work for all types of waves?
A: Yes, but the speed value (c) changes depending on the medium and wave type.
Q4: What's the speed of light in different units?
A: Approximately 3×10⁸ m/s, 3×10¹⁰ cm/s, or 186,000 miles per second.
Q5: How does frequency relate to energy?
A: For electromagnetic waves, energy is directly proportional to frequency (E = hf, where h is Planck's constant).