The wavelength of light is 310nm. Calculate its frequency. Can someone please explain how to do this and show me.

Question

joannablackwelder · Answer

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. All electromagnetic radiation has speed 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.

joannablackwelder · Answer

c = λν 
where c is the speed of electromagnetic radiation, λ is wavelength, and ν is frequency.

joannablackwelder · Answer

Solving for frequency, we have ν = c/λ, but we have to make sure our units are consistent.

anonymous · Answer

do i need to convert the speed (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) or the wavelength (310 nm) into different units before plugging in to the equation?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Yup

anonymous · Answer

that's my only problem, i don't know what to convert them to.

joannablackwelder · Answer

You can convert nm to m or m to nm. It doesn't matter, as long as they are the same.

joannablackwelder · Answer

1 m = 10^9 nm

anonymous · Answer

okay thanks!

joannablackwelder · Answer

No worries

joannablackwelder · Answer

What do you get your frequency's unit to be?

anonymous · Answer

should be hz right?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Exactly. :)