Wavelength Definition and 1000 Threads

In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns. The inverse of the wavelength is called the spatial frequency. Wavelength is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ).
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 of the wave: waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequencies have longer wavelengths.Wavelength depends on the medium (for example, vacuum, air, or water) that a wave travels through. Examples of waves are sound waves, light, water waves and periodic electrical signals in a conductor. A sound wave is a variation in air pressure, while in light and other electromagnetic radiation the strength of the electric and the magnetic field vary. Water waves are variations in the height of a body of water. In a crystal lattice vibration, atomic positions vary.
The range of wavelengths or frequencies for wave phenomena is called a spectrum. The name originated with the visible light spectrum but now can be applied to the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as to a sound spectrum or vibration spectrum.

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  1. L

    A Spectroscopic vs. single wavelength ellipsometry

    Hello, I know that spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is more accurate than single-wavelength ellipsometry (SWE), but I would like to know how to create a dispersion model using SWE instead of SE. SE sweeps over wavelength, measures reflectivity vs. wavelength, and gives a variety of optical...
  2. H

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  3. J

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  4. S

    B If energy increases with decreasing wavelength, then...

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  5. G

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  6. N

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  7. B

    I DeBroglie wavelength & particle-wave duality

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  8. snate

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  9. weezy

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  10. S

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  11. RJLiberator

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  12. Adam Rabe

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  13. D

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  14. Daniel Petka

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  15. Daniel Petka

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  16. T

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  17. JulienB

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  18. Z

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  19. W

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  20. R

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  21. Theudius

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  22. Samama Fahim

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  23. Daniel Petka

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  24. J

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  25. L

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  26. L

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  27. Cocoleia

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  28. jwkhjang

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  29. Buzz Bloom

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  30. G

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  31. T

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  32. huffy

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  33. ReidMerrill

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  34. R

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  35. nso09

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  36. A

    Finding order of diffraction given angle and wavelength

    Homework Statement Calculate the grating constant, d, given that theta = 172.01167 degrees, and that lambda = 447.2 nanometers. 2. Homework Equations d = mλ / sinθ where m is an integer that refers to the order of diffraction where λ is the wavelength where d is the spacing between two slits...
  37. adamaero

    Finding wavelength of visible light in a well

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  38. terryds

    Wave Problem (time for a point to move half a wavelength)

    Homework Statement If a wave y(x, t) = (6.0 mm) sin(kx + (600 rad/s)t + θ) travels along a string, how much time does any given point on the string take to move between displacements y=+2.0 mm and y=-2.0 mm? Homework Equations ω=2πf (but it's not necessary in this problem, this problem just...
  39. G

    B Electron Diffraction and the DeBroglie Wavelength

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  40. afcsimoes

    B Is there a minimum wavelength for electromagnetic radiation?

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  41. J

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  42. allenlistar

    Calibrate Spectroscope to Find Wavelength

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  43. moenste

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  44. moenste

    Find the wavelength of the blue line (line spectrum)

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  45. K

    Threshold Wavelength for Photoelectric Effect - 6.476103179e-19J

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  46. senobim

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  47. Deebu R

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  48. R

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  49. H

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  50. Drakkith

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