1. What is the Frequency Equation?

The frequency equation relates the frequency of a wave to its wavelength and the speed of propagation. For electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, the speed is the speed of light.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the frequency equation:

Where:

• \( f \) — Frequency (Hz)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (299,792,458 m/s)
• \( \lambda \) — Wavelength (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength - as wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and vice versa.

3. Importance of Frequency Calculation

Details: Calculating frequency from wavelength is essential in physics, engineering, and telecommunications for designing systems that use electromagnetic waves.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters. The value must be greater than 0. For very small wavelengths (like light waves), scientific notation may be helpful.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the speed of light in other media?
A: The speed of light varies in different media (slower in water or glass). This calculator uses the vacuum speed of light.

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

Q3: What are typical wavelength ranges?
A: Visible light: 380-700 nm, Radio waves: 1 mm to 100 km, X-rays: 0.01-10 nm.

Q4: How does frequency relate to energy?
A: For photons, energy is directly proportional to frequency (E = hf, where h is Planck's constant).

Q5: What if my wavelength is in different units?
A: Convert to meters first. For example, 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m, 1 μm = 10⁻⁶ m.