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What is the formula for wavelength?

Meredith Juncker, PhD
Scientific Researcher
Meredith Juncker is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her studies are focused on proteins and neurodegenerative diseases.

Meredith Juncker, PhD

Scientific Researcher

Expert Answer

Wavelength can be calculated using the following formula: wavelength = wave velocity/frequency. Wavelength usually is expressed in units of meters. The symbol for wavelength is the Greek lambda λ, so λ = v/f.

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Question

How do I calculate the wave length given only the frequency?

Meredith Juncker, PhD
Scientific Researcher
Meredith Juncker is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her studies are focused on proteins and neurodegenerative diseases.

Meredith Juncker, PhD

Scientific Researcher

Expert Answer

The speed of light never changes, so v will always equal 3.0 x 10^8 m/s. This value, divided by the given frequency, will give you wavelength.

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If the frequency of a radio wave is 4.5GHz, what is the wavelength of the wave (velocity of light=3x10m/s)?

Meredith Juncker, PhD
Scientific Researcher
Meredith Juncker is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her studies are focused on proteins and neurodegenerative diseases.

Meredith Juncker, PhD

Scientific Researcher

Expert Answer

f = 4.5 GHz = 4.5 x 10^9 Hz (Hz = s^-1) v = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s lambda = v/f = (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) / (4.5 x 20^9 s^-1) = 0.0666 m = 66.6 um

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Question

How do I calculate wavelengths?

Community Answer

If you want to calculate the wavelength of a wave, plug the wave's speed and frequency into the equation. Dividing speed by frequency gives you the wavelength.

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What is the speed of a sound wave that is 30Hz and has a wavelength of 5M?

Community Answer

Wavelength = 5M. Freq = 30 Hz. Speed = 5m x 30 Hz. 150 m/s is speed. See formula wavelength = speed of wave / frequency.

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How do I work out the maximum wavelength?

Community Answer

To determine the maximum wavelength of light, you simply use the energy equation. If you know the amount of energy required for the reaction, you plug it into the equation λ = hc/E.

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Question

If a signal has wavelength of 2um in air, how far can the front of the wave travel during 3000 periods?

Community Answer

A wavelength is how long a wave (signal) travels over 1 period, so the calculation would be: 2µm * 3000, which equals 6000µm, or 6mm.

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A station transmits radiowaves on a frequency 600Hz. How do I calculate the wavelength of the wave?

Danoyachtcapt

Top Answerer

The frequencies given are in the audio range, but if a radio transmitter could operate in that range, you could use the following equation: Wavelength in meters = 300,000 / frequency in kHz.

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The wavelength of the signal from radio transmitter is 200 khz. What is the wavelength from a transmitter operating at 1000 hz and at what speed do the radio waves travel?

Danoyachtcapt

Top Answerer

The frequencies given are in the audio range, but if a radio transmitter could operate in that range, you could use the following equation: Wavelength in meters = 300,000 / frequency in khz.

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How do I calculate wavelength of a wave using a distance-displacement graph?

Community Answer

The wavelength of wave is the shortest distance that the wave begins to repeat itself, or the distance between one peak the next peak. If the distance between two peaks is 2 meters, then the wavelength is 2 meters.

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Question

How do I get the distance when calculating wavelength?

Community Answer

Get the distance by doing c=/\( Lamda) times f, then put joules as your unit.

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Question

How do I determine the frequency of a radio wave?

Community Answer

You divide the velocity of the wave (approx. 300,000m/s in air) by the wavelength (in the units μm, mm, cm or m) to get the frequency.

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Question

Calculate the wavelength of na xray produced by a 100kV(h=6.6×10^-34Js,e=1.6×10^-19C,c=3×10^8m/s).

Community Answer

Wavelength=hc/E. Wavelength=6.6×10^-34×3×10^8÷1.6×10^8. Wavelength=123.75×10^-19.

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