The relationship between frequency and wavelength is inverse and proportional to the speed of light. Mathematically, the relationship can be expressed as:
c = λ * f
where: c is the speed of light, λ (lambda) is the wavelength, and f is the frequency.
From this equation, we can observe the following:
Inverse Relationship: Frequency and wavelength have an inverse relationship. As the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa. This means that if one quantity doubles, the other quantity halves.
Proportional to the Speed of Light: The product of frequency and wavelength is equal to the speed of light. This implies that as the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa, to maintain a constant value for the speed of light. Therefore, the speed of light acts as a constant factor that relates frequency and wavelength.
High Frequency, Short Wavelength: Higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths. For example, gamma rays and X-rays have high frequencies and very short wavelengths, while radio waves have lower frequencies and much longer wavelengths.
Low Frequency, Long Wavelength: Lower frequency waves have longer wavelengths. For instance, radio waves have low frequencies and longer wavelengths, while infrared and microwaves have intermediate frequencies and wavelengths.
In summary, frequency and wavelength have an inverse relationship and are proportional to the speed of light. As the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa, while their product remains constant as determined by the speed of light.