The relationship between the characteristics of light, such as frequency and wavelength, is described by the wave-particle duality of light. According to this concept, light can behave both as a wave and as a particle (photon).
Frequency (f) refers to the number of wave cycles or oscillations that occur per unit of time. It is typically measured in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz represents one cycle per second. In the context of light, frequency refers to the number of complete wave cycles that pass through a point in space per unit of time.
Wavelength (λ), on the other hand, is the distance between two consecutive points in a wave that are in phase with each other, such as two adjacent peaks or troughs. It is usually measured in units of length, such as meters (m), centimeters (cm), or nanometers (nm).
The relationship between frequency and wavelength of light can be described by the equation:
c = λf
where c is the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s). This equation, known as the wave equation, states that the speed of light is equal to the product of the wavelength and the frequency of light.
From this equation, it follows that as the frequency of light increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa. In other words, light with a higher frequency has a shorter wavelength, while light with a lower frequency has a longer wavelength.
This relationship is fundamental in understanding various phenomena related to light, such as diffraction, interference, and the behavior of light when it interacts with matter. Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, are characterized by different ranges of frequencies and wavelengths.