Question #f2711

1 Answer
Feb 2, 2014

The wavelength decreases as the frequency increases.

Explanation:

The wavelength λ is the distance between successive peaks in a wave.

The frequency f of a wave is the number of complete waves that pass a point in a given time.

resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk

Above we see two sound waves travelling through space at the same velocity v.

The red dot follows the amplitude of the wave as it goes by.

The frequency of oscillation of the dot is the frequency f of the wave. The second wave has twice the frequency of the first.

You can see that the wavelength is halved when the frequency is doubled.

The frequency f and wavelength λ are related to one another and to the speed of the wave v by the formula

fλ = v.

Since v is constant, if f increases, λ must decrease, and vice versa.