Wavelength
hideIn physics, the wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave – the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves. Wavelength is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ). The concept can also be applied to periodic waves of non-sinusoidal shape. The term wavelength is also sometimes applied to modulated waves, and to the sinusoidal envelopes of modulated waves or waves formed by interference of several sinusoids.
Assuming a sinusoidal wave moving at a fixed wave speed, wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency: waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequencies have longer wavelengths.
Examples of wave-like phenomena are sound waves, light, and water waves. A sound wave is a periodic variation in air pressure, while in light and other electromagnetic radiation the strength of the electric and the magnetic field vary. Water waves are periodic variations in the height of a body of water. In a crystal lattice vibration, atomic positions vary periodically in both lattice position and time.
Wavelength is a measure of the distance between repetitions of a shape feature such as peaks, valleys, or zero-crossings, not a measure of how far any given particle moves. For example, in waves over deep water a particle in the water moves in a circle of the same diameter as the wave height, unrelated to wavelength.
For more information about Wavelength, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with wavelength
Invisibility visualized: German team unveils new software for rendering cloaked objects
Nov 13, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists and curiosity seekers who want to know what a partially or completely cloaked object would look like in real life can now get their wish -- virtually. A team of researchers at the ...
New nano color sorters from Molecular Foundry
Nov 12, 2009 |
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Berkeley Lab researchers have engineered a new class of bowtie-shaped devices that capture, filter and steer light at the nanoscale. These "nano-colorsorter" devices act as antennae to focus and sort light ...
'Dropouts' pinpoint earliest galaxies
Nov 06, 2009 |
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Astronomers, conducting the broadest survey to date of galaxies from about 800 million years after the Big Bang, have found 22 early galaxies and confirmed the age of one by its characteristic hydrogen signature ...
How white is a paper?
Technology / Computer Sciences
Oct 22, 2009 |
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Whiter paper and better color reproduction are examples of important competitive advantages on an international market. But how white is a paper? And why do vacation photos turn out so dark if you don't buy ...
Designer molecule detects tiny amounts of cyanide, then glows
Oct 21, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A small molecule designed to detect cyanide in water samples works quickly, is easy to use, and glows under ultraviolet or "black" light. Although the fluorescent molecule is not yet ready ...
Chinese scientists create metamaterial black hole
Oct 16, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Two physicists in China have used metamaterials to create the first artificial electromagnetic black hole. The scientists, Qiang Cheng and Tie Jun Cui from the Southeast University in Nanjing, ...
Physicists Demonstrate Three-Color Entanglement
Oct 07, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, physicists have demonstrated the quantum entanglement of three light beams, all of different wavelengths. Entanglement of two light beams of different wavelengths has already ...
Researchers identify better laser for treating facial spider veins
Oct 06, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have concluded that the 940nm wavelength laser is superior for treating facial spider veins (telangiectasias) as compared to the 532nm wavelength ...
Herschel views deep-space pearls on a cosmic string
Oct 02, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Herschel has delivered spectacular vistas of cold gas clouds lying near the plane of the Milky Way, revealing intense, unexpected activity. The dark, cool region is dotted with stellar factories, ...
Diamonds are a laser's best friend
Sep 18, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Tomorrow's lasers may come with a bit of bling, thanks to a new technology that uses man-made diamonds to enhance the power and capabilities of lasers. Researchers in Australia have now demonstrated the first ...
Sharp's New Semiconductor Laser for Triple- and Quadruple- Layer Blu-ray Discs
Sep 18, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Sharp Corporation has announced the development of a new 500 mW semiconductor laser for triple- and quadruple- layer Blu-ray discs.
In Search of Dark Asteroids (and Other Sneaky Things)
Sep 16, 2009 |
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Ninjas knew how to be stealthy: Be dark. Emit very little light. Move in the shadows between bright places.
Global view of valleys on Titan shows north south contrast
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 16, 2009 |
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A team of international scientists led by Mirjam Langhans, from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), will present first results of a global analysis of spatial patterns, occurrence and origin of river channels ...
Spot discovered on dwarf planet Haumea shows up red and rich with organics
Sep 16, 2009 |
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A dark red area discovered on dwarf planet Haumea appears to be richer in minerals and organic compounds than the surrounding icy surface. The discovery will be presented at the European Planetary Science ...
Graphene and gallium arsenide: Two perfect partners find each other
Sep 16, 2009 |
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It is the marriage of two top candidates for the electronics of the future, both excentric and extremely interesting: Graphene, one of the partners, is an extremely thin fellow and besides, very young.
