Question

Microwaves inside a microwave oven have an average frequency of 3.0 x 10⁶ Hz. Show that the wavelength of such waves is about the width of your pinkie finger.

Answer 1

The wavelength of microwaves with a frequency of 3.0 x 10⁹ Hz is calculated to be approximately 10 centimeters, which is about the width of an adult's pinkie finger.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the wavelength of microwaves in a microwave oven with a frequency of 3.0 x 10⁹ Hz, we use the formula for wave speed (c), which is the product of frequency (f) and wavelength (λ), given by c = fλ. The speed of light (c) is approximately 3.0 x 10⁸ meters per second (m/s), which is a constant for all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum. Substituting the known values, we can solve for the wavelength (λ):

λ = c / f

λ = (3.0 x 10⁸ m/s) / (3.0 x 10⁹ Hz) = 0.1 meters or 10 centimeters (cm)

The average width of an adult's pinkie finger is about 1 cm, so the wavelength is indeed about the width of your pinkie finger.