Wavelength Physics Example 5

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Example 5

medium
A radio station broadcasts at 98.5 MHz98.5 \text{ MHz}. What is the wavelength of the signal? Use c=3×108 m/sc = 3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}.

Solution

  1. 1
    Convert frequency: 98.5 MHz=98.5×106 Hz98.5 \text{ MHz} = 98.5 \times 10^6 \text{ Hz}.
  2. 2
    λ=cf=3×10898.5×106≈3.05 m\lambda = \frac{c}{f} = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{98.5 \times 10^6} \approx 3.05 \text{ m}

Answer

λ≈3.05 m\lambda \approx 3.05 \text{ m}
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light. FM radio wavelengths are a few meters long — comparable to the size of an FM antenna.

About Wavelength

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive identical points on a wave, such as from one peak to the next peak or one trough to.

Learn more about Wavelength →

More Wavelength Examples

Example 1 easy

A wave has a speed of [formula] and a frequency of [formula]. What is the wavelength?

Example 2 medium

Red light has a wavelength of [formula] in a vacuum. What is its frequency? Use [formula].

Example 3 easy

A water wave has a wavelength of [formula] and a period of [formula]. What is the wave speed?

Example 4 medium

A sound wave has frequency 440 Hz and travels at 343 m/s. Find the wavelength.

← All Wavelength Examples Wavelength Concept

Related Concepts

WavesFrequencyWave Speed