In physics, the relationship between wavelength and frequency is defined by the equation:
c = λν
where c represents the speed of light, λ denotes the wavelength, and ν represents the frequency. This equation is known as the wave equation.
According to the wave equation, the speed of light is constant in a given medium or vacuum. Therefore, when you change the wavelength of a wave, it directly affects the frequency.
If you decrease the wavelength (λ), the frequency (ν) of the wave increases, and vice versa. This relationship is inverse. When the wavelength becomes shorter, the wave oscillates more frequently within a given time interval, resulting in a higher frequency. Conversely, if the wavelength becomes longer, the wave oscillates less frequently, resulting in a lower frequency.
To summarize, changing the wavelength of a wave has a direct and inverse effect on its frequency. Decreasing the wavelength leads to an increase in frequency, while increasing the wavelength leads to a decrease in frequency.