Question

Select ALL answers that apply to the total energy of a wave:

Answer 1

Answer:

(A) The shorter the wavelength, the more total energy the wave contains.

(B) The longer the wavelength, the less total energy the wave contains.

Explanation:

The wavelength (λ), frequency (f) and energy (E) are interrelated. This relationship between them is represented in the following equations:

λ = v/f and E = hf

Where;

λ = wavelength (m)

f = frequency (Hz)

E = energy (Joules)

v and h represents speed of light and Planck's constants respectively.

Combining both equations, E = hc/λ

This equation shows that ENERGY (E) is directly proportional to the frequency (f) but inversely proportional to the wavelength (λ). This means that "the shorter the wavelength, the more total energy a wave contains" and vice versa.

However, the higher the frequency, the more the total energy the wave contains and vice versa.