Question

X-rays typically have a wavelength of around 1x10^(-9)m. What is the frequency of the X-ray

Answer 1

The speed v of a wave is related to its wavelength λ and its frequency f as follows:

`v=\lambda f`

X-rays are electromagnetic radiation, whose speed is the same as the speed of light c:

`c\approx300,000,000(m)/(s)`

Isolate f from the equation and substitute the values for the speed and the wavelength to find the frequency of x-rays:

`\begin{gathered} f=(v)/(\lambda) \\ =\frac{300,000,000(m)/(s)}{1*10^(-9)m^{}} \\ =3*10^(17)(1)/(s) \\ =3*10^(17)Hz \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the frequency of the X-ray, is:

`3*10^{17^{}}Hz`