How does the frequency of a wave affect the wavelength?

1 Answer
Jun 12, 2014

For a given type of wave in a given medium a larger frequency means a smaller wavelength.


A specific type of wave in a specific medium has a constant speed. For example electromagnetic waves have a speed of #3.0*10^8 ms^-1# in a vacuum, whereas in glass they have a speed of approx. of #2.0*10^8 ms^-1#.

Wave speed, frequency and wavelength are related by this equation: #v=fλ#. If the medium does not change then #v# is a constant and wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional.