The Relationship
* Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional. This means that as one increases, the other decreases.
* The speed of the wave is constant. This is a key assumption.
Explanation
Imagine a wave moving like a ripple in a pond.
* Frequency is how many ripples pass a point per second.
* Wavelength is the distance between two crests (or troughs) of the wave.
If you increase the frequency (more ripples per second), the crests have to be closer together to fit in the same time. This means the wavelength gets shorter.
The Equation
The relationship between wavelength (λ), frequency (f), and speed (v) of a wave is given by:
v = fλ
* v: Speed of the wave
* f: Frequency of the wave
* λ: Wavelength of the wave
In conclusion: If the speed of a wave stays the same and the frequency increases, the wavelength must decrease to maintain the constant speed.
