How are wavelength and frequency related?

Wavelength and frequency are fundamentally linked through the wave equation, which states that the speed of a wave equals the product of its frequency and wavelength. In a vacuum, this relationship can be illustrated with the equation:

[ v = f \times \lambda ]

where ( v ) represents the speed of the wave, ( f ) is the frequency, and ( \lambda ) is the wavelength. If you consider the speed of light in a vacuum (or electromagnetic waves in general), it remains constant. As frequency increases, the wavelength must decrease to maintain this equation, which indicates that they are inversely proportional.

Thus, when frequency increases, it corresponds to shorter wavelengths, confirming the inverse relationship. This principle is essential for understanding various applications in radio communication, where different frequencies correspond to different wavelength behaviors in transmitting and receiving signals.