Electromagnetic Spectrum and Wave Properties Quiz

Relationship between Wavelength and Frequency

• Wavelength (λ) and frequency (f) of an electromagnetic wave are inversely related; as wavelength increases, frequency decreases and vice versa.
• This relationship is described by the formula: speed of light (c) = wavelength (λ) × frequency (f).

Types of Electromagnetic Waves

• Radio waves have the longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, often measured in kilometers.
• Gamma rays possess the highest energy and correspond to the shortest wavelength and highest frequency.

Frequency Units

• The unit of frequency for electromagnetic waves is Hertz (Hz), representing the number of cycles per second.

Energy and Frequency Relationship

• Energy (E) of an electromagnetic wave is directly proportional to its frequency, expressed by the equation: E = h × f, where h is Planck's constant (approximately 6.626 × 10^-34 Js).

Speed of Electromagnetic Waves

• All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 300,000 km/s).

Frequency Description

• Frequency describes how many waves pass a point in one second. Higher frequencies indicate more waves in the same amount of time.

Wavelength Definition

• Wavelength is the distance between successive peaks (or troughs) of a wave, indicating the spatial period of the wave.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Arrangement

• Electromagnetic waves are arranged in the electromagnetic spectrum by increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength. The spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.