1. What is the Wavelength to Frequency Equation?

The wavelength to frequency equation relates the wavelength of light to its frequency using the speed of light. This fundamental physics relationship is essential in optics, electromagnetics, and wave theory.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wavelength-frequency equation:

Where:

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

Explanation: The frequency of a wave is inversely proportional to its wavelength when the speed is constant.

3. Importance of Frequency Calculation

Details: Calculating frequency from wavelength is crucial for designing optical systems, understanding electromagnetic spectrum, and working with radio waves, visible light, and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter wavelength in meters and speed of light in m/s (default is vacuum speed). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the speed of light in different media?
A: In vacuum it's 299,792,458 m/s. In other media (like water or glass) it's slower, depending on the refractive index.

Q2: What are typical wavelength ranges?
A: Visible light is 380-750 nm (nanometers), radio waves can be meters to kilometers, X-rays are 0.01-10 nm.

Q3: How do I convert between different wavelength units?
A: Common conversions: 1 meter = 10^9 nm = 10^10 Ångströms. Make sure to convert to meters before calculation.

Q4: Does this work for sound waves?
A: The same equation applies, but use speed of sound (343 m/s in air at 20°C) instead of speed of light.

Q5: What about energy of the photon?
A: Photon energy can be calculated with E = h×f, where h is Planck's constant (6.626×10^-34 J·s).