Calculating the Frequency of White Light

In summary, the conversation discussed measuring the frequency of white light emitted from a sonoluminescence research project. It was determined that white light does not have a frequency and is a mixture of waves with frequencies in a specific range. However, the frequencies of the individual spectral lines can be measured using a spectrometer and the speed of light to calculate the frequency. This can be helpful in the research project.
  • #1
nst.john
163
1
I am doing a research project on sonoluminescence and I want to measure the ratio between the frequency of the sound waves needed to create the cavitation bubble to the frequency of the light emitted. If I have the spectral lines of the light emitted, is there a way to measure the frequency of the white light?

Thank You!
 
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  • #2
White light does not have a frequency. It is a mixture of waves with frequencies in a specific range.
You can measure the frequencies of the spectral lines that you mention. Why did you ever mention white light? Do you think you have white light emitted by your system?
 
  • #3
White light is, by definition, comprised of multiple individual frequencies. You could measure each individual frequency, but it is meaningless to ask about "the frequency of white light".
 
  • #4
nst.john said:
If I have the spectral lines of the light emitted, is there a way to measure the frequency of the white light?

Measure the wavelength using a spectrometer, then calculate the frequency using the wavelength and the speed of light.
 
  • #5
Sounds good. I know we have one at our school so I can do that. Thanks so much! this can help a lot.
 

Related to Calculating the Frequency of White Light

1. What is white light?

White light is a type of visible light that is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. It is the light that we see when all the colors of the spectrum are combined together in equal amounts.

2. How is the frequency of white light calculated?

The frequency of white light can be calculated by dividing the speed of light (3.00 x 10^8 m/s) by the wavelength of the light. This will give the frequency in units of hertz (Hz).

3. What is the relationship between frequency and energy?

The frequency of light is directly proportional to its energy. This means that as the frequency increases, so does the energy of the light. This is described by the equation E=hf, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is frequency.

4. Why is it important to calculate the frequency of white light?

Calculating the frequency of white light is important because it helps us understand the properties and behavior of light. It also allows us to classify different types of light, such as visible light, radio waves, and X-rays, based on their frequency.

5. Can the frequency of white light be changed?

The frequency of white light cannot be changed, as it is determined by the source of the light. However, certain materials can absorb or scatter specific frequencies of light, causing the perceived color to change. This is how we are able to see different colors in the world around us.

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