Question

NASA communicates with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station using Ku-band microwave radio. Suppose NASA transmits a microwave signal to the Space Shuttle using radio waves with a frequency of 18GHz . Calculate the wavelength of these radio waves.

Answer 1

λ = 0.0167 m = 16.7 mm

Step-by-step explanation:

The wavelength of these radio waves can be found out by using the formula for the speed of radio waves:

v = fλ

where,

v = speed of radio waves = speed of light = 3 x 10⁸ m/s

f = frequency of radio waves = 18 GHz = 18 x 10⁹ Hz

λ = Wavelength = ?

Therefore,

3 x 10⁸ m/s = (18 x 10⁹ Hz)λ

λ = (3 x 10⁸ m/s)/(18 x 10⁹ Hz)

λ = 0.0167 m = 16.7 mm