Name:
Frequency and Wavelength Calculations
Background
- Constant: v = speed of light (3 x 108 m/s)
- Variable: λ=wavelength (m)
- Variable: f = frequency (Hz)
- Formula: λ = v ÷ f
- Example: λ = 300,000,000 m/s ÷ 1,110,000 Hz = 270 m
Directions
For each problem write the formula, the formula populated with numbers, and the numeric answer with the proper units.
Find the Wavelength
- 3,000 Hz
- 300 MHz (Mega = 1 x 106)
- 1 THz (Tera = 1 x 1012)
Find the Frequency
- 390 nm (nano = 1 x 10-9)
- 10 nm (nano = 1 x 10-9)
- 10 pm (pico = 1 x 10-12)
| Prefix | Symbol | 10n | Decimal | Short scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| exa | E | 1018 | 1000000000000000000 | Quintillion |
| peta | P | 1015 | 1000000000000000 | Quadrillion |
| tera | T | 1012 | 1000000000000 | Trillion |
| giga | G | 109 | 1000000000 | Billion |
| mega | M | 106 | 1000000 | Million |
| kilo | k | 103 | 1000 | Thousand |
| 100 | 1 | One | ||
| centi | c | 10-2 | 0.01 | Hundredth |
| milli | m | 10-3 | 0.001 | Thousandth |
| micro | µ | 10-6 | 0.000001 | Millionth |
| nano | n | 10-9 | 0.000000001 | Billionth |
| pico | p | 10-12 | 0.000000000001 | Trillionth |
| femto | f | 10-15 | 0.000000000000001 | Quadrillionth |
| atto | a | 10-18 | 0.000000000000000001 | Quintillionth |
