A scientist measured the wavelength of an orange light was at #6.15 * 10^-7# meters. A second scientist measured the wavelength of a green light as #5.6 * 10^-7# meters. How much longer is the orange wave than the green wave?

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Nov 23, 2015

#5.5 * 10^(-8)"m"#

Explanation:

Unless I'm missing something important here, you can find the difference between the two wavelengths by subtracting one from the other.

Since you're interested in finding how much longer the wavelength associated with the orange light is, subtract the wavelength of the green light from the wavelength of the orange light.

You know that the two measured wavelengths are

  • #6.15 * 10^(-7)"m" -># orange light
  • #5.6 * 10^(-7)"m" -># green light

Therefore, the difference between the two wavelengths will be

#Delta_"wavelength" = 6.15 * 10^(-7)"m" - 5.6 * 10^(-7)"m" = color(green)(5.5 * 10^(-8)"m")#

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