The relationship between the velocity of a wave (v) and its wavelength (λ) is given by the equation:
v = λf
where:
- v represents the velocity or speed of the wave
- λ (lambda) represents the wavelength of the wave
- f represents the frequency of the wave
This equation states that the velocity of a wave is equal to the product of its wavelength and frequency. In other words, the speed of a wave is determined by the wavelength and frequency.
For example, if you have the frequency of a wave and the wavelength, you can calculate the velocity of the wave using this equation. Similarly, if you know the velocity of a wave and its frequency, you can calculate the wavelength using the equation rearranged as:
λ = v / f
In summary, the velocity of a wave is directly proportional to its wavelength. If the wavelength increases, the velocity of the wave will also increase, given that the frequency remains constant. Conversely, if the wavelength decreases, the velocity of the wave will decrease, again assuming the frequency remains constant.