Final answer:
The wavelength of radio waves received at 100.1 MHz on an FM radio dial is calculated using the formula λ = c / f, which results in a wavelength of approximately 3 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating the Wavelength of Radio Waves
Radio waves, like all electromagnetic waves, travel at the speed of light. For any wave, the relationship between speed (c), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) is given by the equation c = λ × f. To solve for the wavelength of radio waves at a given frequency, the equation can be rearranged to λ = c / f. Now we can plug in the values 300,000 km/s for the speed of light (which is 3 × 10⁸ m/s when converted to meters per second) and 100.1 MHz for the frequency (which is 100.1 × 10⁶ Hz when converted to Hertz).
So the calculation would be:
- Speed of light, c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
- Frequency, f = 100.1 × 10⁶ Hz
- Wavelength, λ = c / f = (3 × 10⁸ m/s) / (100.1 × 10⁶ Hz) = 2.997 m
Therefore, the wavelength of radio waves received at 100.1 MHz on your FM radio dial is approximately 3 meters.