Question

Describe wavelength, amplitude, and frequency in relationship to vision and hearing

Answer 1

Wavelength and frequency are inversely related so that longer waves have lower frequencies, and shorter waves have higher frequencies. In the visual system, a light wave's wavelength is generally associated with color, and its amplitude is associated with brightness.

Answer 2

Explanation:

1. Visual and auditory stimuli both occur in the form of waves. Although the two stimuli are very different in terms of composition, wave forms share similar characteristics that are especially important to our visual and auditory perceptions. Waveforms of different types surround us at all times, however we only have receptors which are sensitive to specific types of wavelengths. In this section, we describe the physical properties of the waves as well as the perceptual experiences associated with them.

AMPLITUDE AND WAVELENGTH

• Two physical characteristics of a wave are amplitude and wavelength (figure below). The amplitude of a wave is the height of a wave as measured from the highest point on the wave (peak or crest) to the lowest point on the wave (trough). Wavelength refers to the length of a wave from one peak to the next.

 

The amplitude or height of a wave is measured from the peak to the trough. The wavelength is measured from peak to peak.

 

   Wavelength is directly related to the frequency of a given wave form. Frequency refers to the number of waves that pass a given point in a given time period and is often expressed in terms of hertz (Hz), or cycles per second. Longer wavelengths will have lower frequencies, and shorter wavelengths will have higher frequencies