Electromagnetic radiation, such as light, exhibits a dual nature. It behaves both as a wave and as a stream of particles called photons. The speed of electromagnetic radiation, commonly denoted as 'c', is a fundamental constant in a vacuum and is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s).
When considering electromagnetic waves, such as light, the speed of light remains constant regardless of the wavelength or frequency of the wave. This is known as the speed of light in a vacuum.
The relationship between wavelength (λ), frequency (f), and the speed of light (c) is given by the equation:
c = λf
This equation shows that the product of wavelength and frequency is always equal to the speed of light. Consequently, if the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa, while the product remains constant at the speed of light.
In other words, different wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic radiation can coexist and propagate at the same speed because they are inversely related. Longer wavelength waves have lower frequencies, while shorter wavelength waves have higher frequencies. This relationship allows electromagnetic radiation to exhibit various properties, including different colors of light, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and more, all traveling at the same speed but with distinct wavelengths and frequencies.