Understanding Wave Number
* Wave number (k) is the spatial frequency of a wave, representing the number of wavelengths per unit distance.
* It's usually measured in units of reciprocal meters (m⁻¹).
* The relationship between wavelength (λ) and wave number is:
k = 2π/λ
Calculation
1. Convert wavelength to meters: 5 nm = 5 x 10⁻⁹ m
2. Apply the formula:
k = 2π / (5 x 10⁻⁹ m)
k ≈ 1.2566 x 10⁹ m⁻¹
Therefore, the wave number of a 5nm wavelength is approximately 1.2566 x 10⁹ m⁻¹.
