QUESTION IMAGE
Question
- based on this diagram, predict the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of a wave. explain your evidence and reasoning.
Step1: Observe the diagram
As we move from left - to - right in the electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelength decreases (from radio waves with long wavelengths to gamma rays with short wavelengths), and the frequency increases (from $10^{4}$ Hz for radio waves to $10^{20}$ Hz for gamma rays).
Step2: State the relationship
The relationship between wavelength ($\lambda$) and frequency ($f$) of a wave is an inverse relationship. Mathematically, $c = \lambda f$, where $c$ is the speed of light (a constant in a vacuum). When the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases and vice - versa.
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The wavelength and frequency of a wave have an inverse relationship. As the wavelength of a wave increases, its frequency decreases, and as the wavelength decreases, the frequency increases. This is because the speed of light (or the speed of the wave in a given medium) is constant, and $c=\lambda f$.