Understanding the Relationship
* Wavelength (λ): The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave.
* Frequency (f): The number of waves passing a point in one second.
* Speed of Light (c): The speed at which light travels in a vacuum, approximately 3 x 10⁸ meters per second.
The Equation
The relationship between wavelength, frequency, and the speed of light is:
c = fλ
Solving for Frequency
1. Convert wavelength to meters:
500 nanometers = 500 x 10⁻⁹ meters
2. Rearrange the equation to solve for frequency:
f = c / λ
3. Plug in the values:
f = (3 x 10⁸ m/s) / (500 x 10⁻⁹ m)
4. Calculate:
f = 6 x 10¹⁴ Hz
Answer: The frequency of a wave with a wavelength of 500 nanometers is 6 x 10¹⁴ Hz. This frequency corresponds to light in the visible spectrum, specifically green light.
