What determines the wavelength of light?

What determines the wavelength of light?

• A. The speed of sound in a vacuum
• B. The speed of light in a medium only
• C. The frequency of the light wave and the speed of light
• D. The physical distance between two light sources

Answer: (C)

The wavelength of light is fundamentally determined by the relationship between its frequency and the speed of light. This relationship can be understood through the equation that relates these quantities: \[ \text{Wavelength} = \frac{\text{Speed of Light}}{\text{Frequency}} \] In this equation, the speed of light is a constant value in a vacuum (approximately \(3.00 \times 10^8\) meters per second) and the frequency refers to how many cycles of the wave pass a given point in one second. Thus, when you know the frequency of light, you can calculate its wavelength by rearranging the equation. This relationship shows that as the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa. Therefore, the correct understanding of how wavelength is determined incorporates both the speed of light and the frequency of the light wave. Other options do not adequately explain the determination of wavelength. For instance, the speed of sound is unrelated to light, and only considering the speed of light in a medium ignores the frequency aspect that is essential to calculate the wavelength. Likewise, the physical distance between two light sources does not provide a direct measure of the wavelength of light; instead, it can influence how light interacts with one another or how

The wavelength of light is fundamentally determined by the relationship between its frequency and the speed of light. This relationship can be understood through the equation that relates these quantities:

[

\text{Wavelength} = \frac{\text{Speed of Light}}{\text{Frequency}}

]

In this equation, the speed of light is a constant value in a vacuum (approximately (3.00 \times 10^8) meters per second) and the frequency refers to how many cycles of the wave pass a given point in one second. Thus, when you know the frequency of light, you can calculate its wavelength by rearranging the equation.

This relationship shows that as the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa. Therefore, the correct understanding of how wavelength is determined incorporates both the speed of light and the frequency of the light wave.

Other options do not adequately explain the determination of wavelength. For instance, the speed of sound is unrelated to light, and only considering the speed of light in a medium ignores the frequency aspect that is essential to calculate the wavelength. Likewise, the physical distance between two light sources does not provide a direct measure of the wavelength of light; instead, it can influence how light interacts with one another or how