Frequency & Wavelenght of EM wave

In summary, the frequency of an electromagnetic wave is the frequency of the variation in the electric and magnetic fields, similar to an AC voltage. The wavelength is a physical property of the wave that determines its spatial periodicity, and can be measured by observing the distance between peaks. The frequency, on the other hand, determines the temporal periodicity of the wave and can be measured by observing the time between peak observations.
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Frequency & Wavelenght of EM wave!

Hi..on some other thread i found this link showing animation of propagation EM wave:

http://www.molphys.leidenuniv.nl/monos/smo/index.html?basics/light_anim.htm

it has cleared my one doubt, because i used to think that EM wave is like an invisible line in air which moves up and down like sinusoidal manner. But it actually a variation in electromagnetic field.

But then my question is:
the frequency of the EM wave is the frequency of electric & magnetic field variation( as AC voltage)?
and how wavelength is measured since there is no(physical) peaks to measure distance between?
 
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The electromagnetic field is a force field. We can directly observe it by measuring the resulting force acting on a test charge. How this is done can vary. For example, an easy method is to use an antenna probe. In such a way we can easily probe the electromagnetic field in both time and space to find the peaks and thus we can easily see that the wavelength and frequency are both physical properties of an electromagnetic wave. The wavelength determines the spatial periodicity of the wave, like the peak to peak distance. The frequency determines the temporal periodicity of the wave, like the time between a peak to peak observation.
 

Related to Frequency & Wavelenght of EM wave

1. What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength of an EM wave?

The frequency and wavelength of an EM wave are inversely proportional to each other. This means that as the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases, and vice versa. This relationship is described by the formula: c = fλ, where c is the speed of light, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength.

2. How are frequency and wavelength measured in an EM wave?

The frequency of an EM wave is measured in Hertz (Hz), which represents the number of wave cycles per second. The wavelength is measured in meters (m) or other units of length, and it represents the distance between two consecutive wave peaks or troughs.

3. What is the range of frequencies and wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into different regions based on the frequencies and wavelengths of EM waves. The range of frequencies is from 3 Hz (radio waves) to 3x10^19 Hz (gamma rays), and the range of wavelengths is from thousands of kilometers (radio waves) to less than 0.01 nanometers (gamma rays).

4. How do the frequency and wavelength of an EM wave affect its properties?

The frequency and wavelength of an EM wave determine its properties, such as energy, penetration, and interaction with matter. Higher frequency and shorter wavelength waves have more energy and can penetrate deeper into materials, while lower frequency and longer wavelength waves have less energy and are easily absorbed by materials.

5. Can the frequency and wavelength of an EM wave be changed?

Yes, the frequency and wavelength of an EM wave can be changed by altering the source of the wave or by interacting with different materials. For example, a radio wave can be converted to a visible light wave by passing it through a prism. Additionally, the frequency and wavelength of an EM wave can be affected by the medium it travels through, as some materials can slow down or speed up the wave, causing a change in wavelength.

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