Wavelength and Frequency in Light

Flashcards covering key concepts related to wavelength and frequency in the context of light.

C (Speed of Light)

A constant value of 3.0 * 10^8 meters per second.

V (Frequency)

Measured in hertz (Hz) or seconds to the negative one (s^-1).

Lambda (Wavelength)

The distance between successive peaks of a wave, typically measured in meters or nanometers.

Wavelength Calculation Formula

Lambda = C / V, used to find wavelength when frequency is known.

Nanometer

A unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter, often used to measure wavelengths of light.

Visible Spectrum

The range of electromagnetic wavelengths that are visible to the human eye, approximately 380 to 750 nanometers.

Conversion factor from meters to nanometers

Multiply by 10^9 to convert meters to nanometers.

Example Frequency of Light

7.26 * 10^14 hertz, corresponding to the violet region of the visible spectrum.

Example Wavelength in Nanometers

Converting 4.13 * 10^-7 meters results in 4,113 nanometers.

Hertz

The unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second.