Wavelength is the distance over which a wave's shape repeats itself. More specifically, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on a wave, such as from crest to crest, trough to trough, or from one compression to the next in longitudinal waves
. It is commonly denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Wavelength is a fundamental characteristic of waves, including sound waves, light waves, water waves, and electromagnetic waves. It represents the length of one complete cycle of the wave
. Wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency of the wave: waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, and waves with lower frequencies have longer wavelengths. The relationship between wavelength (λ), wave speed (v), and frequency (f) is given by the formula:
λ=vf\lambda =\frac{v}{f}λ=fv
For electromagnetic waves such as light, where the wave speed is the speed of light (c), this becomes:
λ=cf\lambda =\frac{c}{f}λ=fc
Thus, wavelength depends on both the wave's frequency and the medium through which it travels
. In summary, wavelength is the spatial length of one full wave cycle, measured as the distance between repeating points of the wave, and is inversely related to the wave's frequency. It is a key parameter in describing wave behavior across many physical phenomena.
