Question

NASA communicates with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station using Ku-band microwave radio. Suppose NASA transmits a microwave signal to the Space Shuttle using radio waves with a frequency of . Calculate the wavelength of these radio waves. Be sure your answer has the correct number of significant digits.

Answer 1

Answer:

λ₁ = 2.50 10⁻² m,   λ₂ = 1.66 10⁻² m  

Explanation:

Microwave communication is very efficient because it does not have atmospheric interference, for which it is widely used and has been regulated to avoid interference, the ku band is in the range between 12 and 18 GHz.

Let's calculate the wavelength for the two extreme frequencies of this band

wavelength and frequency are related

         c = λ f

          λ = c / f

f₁ = 12 GHz = 12 10⁹ Hz

          λ₁ = 3 10⁸ /12 10⁹

           λ₁ = 2.50 10⁻² m

f₂ = 18 GHz = 18 10⁹ Hz

          λ₂ = 3 10⁸ /18 10⁹

          λ₂ = 1.66 10⁻² m

Unfortunately in your exercise the specific frequency is not fired, for significant figures they must be the same number as the figures of the frequency, in general the frequency has 3 or 4 significant figures