Understanding the Relationship
* Speed of light (c): Light travels at a constant speed in a vacuum, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s).
* Frequency (f): This is how many wave cycles pass a point per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).
* Wavelength (λ): This is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave, measured in meters (m).
The Formula
The relationship between these three is:
c = fλ
Solving for Wavelength
1. Rearrange the formula: λ = c / f
2. Plug in the values:
* c = 299,792,458 m/s
* f = 7.21 x 10^14 Hz
3. Calculate:
* λ = 299,792,458 m/s / (7.21 x 10^14 Hz)
* λ ≈ 4.16 x 10^-7 m
Converting to Nanometers (nm)
Since wavelengths of light are often expressed in nanometers (nm), let's convert:
* 1 meter (m) = 1 x 10^9 nanometers (nm)
* λ ≈ 4.16 x 10^-7 m * (1 x 10^9 nm / 1 m)
* λ ≈ 416 nm
Therefore, the wavelength of light with a frequency of 7.21 x 10^14 Hz is approximately 416 nanometers.
