1. What is Wavelength to Frequency Conversion?

The relationship between wavelength and frequency is fundamental in wave physics, particularly in electromagnetic waves. The frequency of a wave is inversely proportional to its wavelength when the speed is constant.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wavelength-frequency equation:

Where:

• \( f \) — Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s)
• \( \lambda \) — Wavelength in meters (m)

Explanation: As wavelength increases, frequency decreases proportionally, and vice versa, when the wave speed remains constant.

3. Importance of Frequency Calculation

Details: Knowing the frequency of electromagnetic waves is crucial for applications in radio communications, optics, spectroscopy, and many other fields of physics and engineering.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters. The value must be positive (wavelength > 0). For best results, use scientific notation for very small or large values.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the speed of light in different media?
A: The speed of light varies in different media. The value 3 × 10⁸ m/s is for vacuum. In other media, it's slower (e.g., ~2.25 × 10⁸ m/s in water).

Q2: Can this calculator be used for sound waves?
A: The same formula applies, but you would need to use the speed of sound (343 m/s in air at 20°C) instead of the speed of light.

Q3: How does wavelength relate to energy?
A: For photons, energy is directly proportional to frequency (E = hf), so shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.

Q4: What are typical wavelength ranges?
A: Radio waves can be kilometers long, visible light is 400-700 nm, while X-rays are 0.01-10 nm.

Q5: Why is the speed of light constant?
A: In vacuum, the speed of light is a fundamental constant of nature (c ≈ 3 × 10⁸ m/s) according to Einstein's theory of relativity.