Final answer:
To find the wavelength of a wave, you can use the formula Vw = fλ, where Vw is the wave velocity, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength. For electromagnetic waves, you can divide the known speed of light by the frequency of the wave to calculate its wavelength.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the wavelength of a wave, you can use the established relationship between wave speed (λ), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) found in the formula Vw = fλ. The formula states that the wave velocity (Vw) is equal to the frequency (f) multiplied by the wavelength (λ). For example, if you have the frequency of a wave and need to find its wavelength, you simply rearrange the formula to λ = Vw / f. The speed of light in a vacuum, which is a constant (approximately 3.00 × 108 m/s), can be used to find the wavelength of photons or other electromagnetic waves.
When practical, you can also visually determine the wavelength on a graph by identifying two successive identical points, typically peaks or troughs, and measuring the distance between them. This distance is the wavelength of the wave.
Example Calculation
If the frequency of yellow light is known to be approximately 5.00 × 1014 Hz, and you need to calculate the wavelength, you would set up your equation as follows: λ = (3.00 × 108 m/s) / (5.00 × 1014 Hz), which yields a wavelength of 6.00 × 10−7 m.