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Which statement best describes the relationship between the wave frequency and energy of an electromagnetic wave?

A)The lower the frequency the higher the energy.
B) There is no relationship between frequency and energy.
C) The higher the frequency the higher the energy.
D)The higher the frequency the lower the energy.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The best description of the relationship between wave frequency and energy in an electromagnetic wave is that higher frequency corresponds to higher energy. The frequency and energy are directly proportional, and a higher frequency results in a shorter wavelength.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the wave frequency and the energy of an electromagnetic wave is that the higher the frequency, the higher the energy. This means that as the frequency of the wave increases, its energy also increases, which can be expressed by the relationship E = hf, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is frequency. It's also important to note that as the wavelength decreases, which is inversely proportional to frequency, the energy of the wave increases. Conversely, a lower frequency wave carries less energy.

Concerning the amplitude of a wave, it is independent of the wave's frequency, and the energy of a wave does indeed increase with an increase in amplitude.

It's crucial to understand that the speed of electromagnetic waves (c) in a vacuum is constant, so the relation c = λf (where λ is wavelength and f is frequency) dictates that a higher frequency coincides with a shorter wavelength and vice versa.

User Eric Huang
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