Difference between Wavelength and Frequency
Last Updated : 01 May, 2024
Wavelength is the distance between two wave crests, and it will be the same for troughs and the frequency is the number of vibrations that pass over a given spot in one second, and it is measured in cycles per second (Hz) (Hertz).
In this article, we will learn about, Wavelength Definition, Wavelength Formula, Frequency Definition, Frequency Formula. Difference between Wavelength and Frequency and others in detail.
The relation between wavelength and frequency is discussed in this article. Waves have a variety of features that can be used to define them. Two such properties are wavelength and frequency. As we’ll see below, the link between wavelength and frequency is that the frequency of a wave multiplied by its wavelength yields the wave’s speed.
What is Wavelength (λ)?
The distance between two close points that are in phase with each other is defined as a wavelength. As a result, a single wavelength separates two consecutive peaks on a wave that would otherwise be a trough. A wave’s wavelength is represented by the symbol lambda (λ).
Wavelength Definition
Wavelength of a wave is the distance between two crests or troughs. The crest is the highest point on the wave, while the trough is the lowest point. Meters, centimeters, millimeters, nanometers, and other wavelength units are used.
Wavelength Formula
Wavelength of any wave is given by the formula,
λ = v/f
where,
- λ is Wavelength of Wave
- v is Velocity of Wave
- f is Frequency of Light
What is Frequency (f)?
Number of wave vibrating in a unit second is called the Frequency. It is measured in Hertz(Hz). Humans can hear frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20000 Hz. Ultrasound refers to sound frequencies that are above the range of human hearing. Infrasound is the term for sound frequencies that are below the range of human hearing.
Frequency Definition
Frequency of any wave is the number of oscillation that a wave perform in a second. We can also define the frequency as the number of waves that passes a fixed point in the unit time.
Frequency Formula
Frequency of the wave is calculated using the formula,
f = 1/T
where, T is the Time Period of Wave
Check: Find the frequency of a number in an array
Relation Between Frequency, Wavelength, and Speed of Wave
Relation Between Frequency, Wavelength, and Speed of Wave is added below,
Speed = Frequency × Wavelength
v = f × λ
where,
- f is the Frequency of Wave
- v is the Velocity of Wave
- T is the Time Period of Wave
Therefore, the above relation is interpreted for frequency as,
f = c/λ
And in terms of wavelength it is represented as,
λ = c/f
Difference between Wavelength and Frequency
Difference between Wavelength and Frequency of the wave are added in the table below,
| Frequency | Wavelength |
| Frequency is defined as the number of complete wave cycles per second. | Wavelength is defined as the total distance covered to complete one wave. |
| It is a measure to determine Time. | It is a measure to find the Distance. |
| It is denoted by the symbol f. | It is denoted by the symbol λ. |
| The formula to calculate the frequency is, f = c/λ, where c is the speed of light. | The formula to calculate the frequency is, λ = c/f, where c is the speed of light. |
| The SI unit of f is Hertz (Hz). | The SI unit of λ is meter (m). |
| Frequency is used to measure the recurrence of sound waves. | Wavelength is used to measure the length of sound waves. |
| Frequency can be determined for both waves and vibrations and for any periodic motion. | Wavelength is only limited to a wave. |
Read More,
Problem 1: Find the wavelength of a wave traveling at 10 m/s at a frequency of 5 Hz?
Solution:
Given,
- Speed = 10 m/s
- Frequency = 5 Hz
Using Formula, λ = c/f
= 10 / 5
= 2 m
Thus, the wavelength is 2 m.
Problem 2: Find the wavelength of a wave traveling at 60 m/s at a frequency of 12 Hz?
Solution:
Using Formula, λ = c/f
= 60 / 12
= 5 m
Problem 3: Find the wavelength of a wave traveling at 100 m/s at a frequency of 11 Hz?
Solution:
Using Formula, λ = c/f
= 100 / 11
= 9.09 m
Problem 4: What is the frequency of light with a speed of 2.998 × 108 ms-1 and a wavelength of 400 nm?
Solution:
Using Formula, f = λ/c
= 2.998 x 108 ms-1 / 400 x 10 -9 m
= 7.50 x 1014 Hz
Problem 5: A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 10 m. What is the speed of the wave?
Solution:
Using Formula, c = λ × f
= 50 × 10
= 500 m/s
Thus the speed is 500 m/s.
Similar Reads
Difference Between Frequency and Relative Frequency
Frequency and relative frequency are two fundamental concepts in statistics. They describe how often values or categories appear in a dataset, and what proportion of the dataset they represent. In this article, we will discuss the difference between frequency and relative frequency, and how to calc
6 min read
Difference between Length and Height
Length measures how long something is while Height measures how tall something is. Length is measured from one end to the other end in a horizontal direction while height is measured in a vertical direction. Let's understand the key difference between length and height. What is Length?Length is defi
4 min read
Relation Between Frequency And Wavelength
A wave is defined as a disturbance in a material that transports energy without causing net particle movement. They travel in a periodic, repeated motion, transferring energy from the source to the destination. Waves are divided into two types: transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Transverse wav
4 min read
Difference Between Amplitude and Frequency
Amplitude and frequency are fundamental concepts in the study of periodic motion. While both describe characteristics of oscillatory phenomena, they represent distinct aspects of the motion. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of a wave or oscillating object from its equilibrium position th
6 min read
Difference Between Speed And Velocity
This article is about the difference between speed and velocity. Speed is the rate of change of distance according to time. It is scalar quantity i.e. speed has magnitude but no direction. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement according to time. It is vector quantity i.e. velocity has both
5 min read
Difference between Energy and Power
Energy is the ability to do work, while power is the rate at which work is done. While energy is measured in joules, power is measured in watts. Energy exists in various forms, such as kinetic, potential, and thermal. Power determines how quickly work is done, impacting everyday devices. In this art
4 min read
Difference Between WLAN and Wi-Fi
Networking of computers is a interconnection of computer devices that can exchange data and share resources with each other. These devices use some set of communication rules known as protocols to send or receive information over physical or wireless technologies. What is WLAN? WLAN full form is Wir
3 min read
Difference between Salary and Wages
In this world, people get paid for their efforts and two common ways to do that are through salary and wages. Salary is like a fixed monthly paycheck, staying the same no matter how many hours you clock in. On the flip side, wages are more like a direct deal, the more hours you work, the more you ge
9 min read
Difference between WiMax and LTE
1. Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX): Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) refers to a wireless communication standard based on IEEE 802.16 and it is a newer technology for point to multipoint wireless networking means it specifies how different wireless devi
3 min read
Difference between Frequency Modulation and Phase Modulation
Transmission is used in telecommunications and broadcasting by altering a carrier wave so that it can cover a certain distance. Transmission of information involves two common methods of modulation, that is, frequency modulation and phase modulation. While both are employed for the purpose of transm
4 min read