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Waves in Matter

Frequency and wavelength across the spectrum

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 12 (Physics)

Overview

How frequency and wavelength are related for electromagnetic waves, calculations using their common speed, the order of the spectrum, and which colours lie at each end of visible light.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which has the higher frequency, a radio wave or an X-ray?

Key term

Which has the longer wavelength, infrared or ultraviolet?

Key term

Why is it enough to know the frequency of an electromagnetic wave in order to work out its wavelength?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How are the frequency and wavelength of an electromagnetic wave related?

    Model answer

    They are inversely related, so as the frequency increases the wavelength decreases, because all these waves travel at the same speed.

  2. 2

    Which has the higher frequency, a radio wave or an X-ray?

    Model answer

    The X-ray has the higher frequency.

  3. 3

    Which has the longer wavelength, infrared or ultraviolet?

    Model answer

    Infrared has the longer wavelength.

  4. 4

    An electromagnetic wave of wavelength 3 m travels at 3 × 10⁸ m/s. What is its frequency?

    Model answer

    Its frequency is 1 × 10⁸ Hz, because 3 × 10⁸ ÷ 3 = 1 × 10⁸.

  5. 5

    A microwave has a frequency of 3 × 10⁹ Hz and travels at 3 × 10⁸ m/s. What is its wavelength?

    Model answer

    Its wavelength is 0.1 m, because 3 × 10⁸ ÷ 3 × 10⁹ = 0.1.

  6. 6

    An infrared wave has a wavelength of 10 μm, which is 1 × 10⁻⁵ m. What is its frequency?

    Model answer

    Its frequency is 3 × 10¹³ Hz, because 3 × 10⁸ ÷ 1 × 10⁻⁵ = 3 × 10¹³.

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