Wave Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength in the Spectrum

All electromagnetic waves in vacuum travel at: c = 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s The wave equation is: c = fλ

Because `c` is constant in vacuum: f ∝ 1λ If frequency increases, wavelength decreases.

For an electromagnetic wave with: `f = 1.0 × 10⁸ Hz` then: `λ = cf` `λ = 3.0 × 10⁸ / 1.0 × 10⁸` λ = 3.0 m

Electromagnetic waves generally travel more slowly in materials than in vacuum. When entering a new medium: frequency remains unchanged but: speed and wavelength may change