Skip to main content

Questions tagged [wavelength]

The wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats, and the inverse of the spatial frequency or wavenumber. Determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests. Use for wavenumber, wavelength, frequency.

0 votes
1 answer
39 views

What determines the wavelength in absorption?

When looking at absorption or reflectance spectra, say in the range of 400nm to 2500nm, you can see peaks (or dips) at certain wavelengths, that are characteristic for the material absorbing and ...
YPOC's user avatar
  • 111
15 votes
6 answers
7k views

Why color depends on frequency and not on wavelength? [duplicate]

To explain my question lets consider this example: The wavelength of light in a medium is $\lambda=\lambda_{0}/\mu$, where $\lambda_{0}$ is the wavelength in vacuum. A beam of red light ($\lambda_{0}=...
Devansh Mittal's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
85 views

Why do water surfaces have persistent "average wavelength" patches?

Have you ever stood above a river or lake and noticed that the surface has visible "patches"? It looks like the surface has different average wavelengths in some areas, leading to the light ...
Robert Wegner's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
96 views

Does gravitational lensing bend light of all wavelengths by the same amount?

Basically I am asking if gravitional lensing is bending or refracting light.
Michael Mcgarry's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
80 views

Mass in de Broglie Formula

Regarding de Broglie formula $$\lambda= h/mv$$ here m is relative mass or rest mass?
SHINU_MADE's user avatar
-3 votes
2 answers
144 views

How many 'wavelengths of length' can a wave have? [closed]

Since a wavelength, $\lambda$, is the length of a entire cycle How many $\lambda$ (complete cycles) can a composed wave have? I mean, for $n \lambda$, how big can $n$ be? And what does it mean, ...
Iberis's user avatar
  • 3
5 votes
2 answers
943 views

Ultrasonic whistling

My friend from physics who doesn't know whistling says he is good at whistling, but the resonant frequencies are ultrasonic so others cannot hear it. Could this be right, or is he just bluffing? ...
AlphaLife's user avatar
  • 12.5k
0 votes
0 answers
52 views

How do we realistically calculate the monochromatic flux of an object in space?

If the collecting area of a telescope is ∆A, and it collects light for a time interval of ∆t, do we just build a telescope with a very small ∆A and make ∆t and ∆λ very small as well? Also, how do we ...
Maxine's user avatar
  • 23
0 votes
2 answers
161 views

Rigorous derivation of DeBroglie wavelength

I've scoured the internet as much as I can, and I've yet to find a rigorous derivation of the DeBroglie wavelength. They all go something like this: $$E=\gamma mc^2, \ \gamma \approx 1 \ \therefore\ E=...
JBatswani's user avatar
  • 187
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

Why is wavelength of an electromagnetic wave so much loner than what my scope shows?

I made a simple LC Tank circuit which oscillates at 166 kHz. Looking at it using my oscilloscope I can see one cycle of the sine wave takes about 6 microseconds. Now if I stick and antenna to this I ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 127
0 votes
1 answer
68 views

What is the spectrum of a broken square drum?

Given a square drum with sides length equal to $L$, the squared raised frequencies are $(\pi m/L)^2 + (\pi n/L)^2 $ with $m,n \in \mathbb{N}^*$. Here we have four boundary conditions (no vibration on ...
Naima's user avatar
  • 708
1 vote
0 answers
34 views

Why doesn't frequency change when the medium of the wave changes, and only depend on the source of the wave? [duplicate]

When the medium of the wave changes, the velocity and the wavelength does change, but not frequency, why?
Chethas Pai's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
47 views

What exactly is matter wave?

Wavelength of matter wave is given by de-broglie as h/p. I want to know wavelength of what wave is being discussed, or specifically what is matter wave? Is it the 'group wave' that has same velocity ...
SHINU_MADE's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
42 views

Why Do Harmonic Components Define Wavelength in Diffraction and Interference Phenomena?

I'm exploring the physical principles underlying diffraction and interference, specifically how these phenomena depend on the wavelength of harmonic (sinusoidal) components of a wave. My question ...
CuriousMind's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
144 views

Why does the equation of a wave contain the term $\omega t$ instead of $vt$ in the wave equation $y=A\sin (kx-\omega t)$?

Why does the equation of a wave contain the term $\omega t$ instead of $vt$ in the wave equation $$y=A\sin (kx-\omega t).$$ I think of the constant $k$ which for higher values increases the frequency $...
Jeffy James's user avatar

15 30 50 per page
1 2
3
4 5
68