wavelength

thumb|right|The wavelength of a sine wave, λ, can be measured between any two points with the same phase, such as between crests (on top), or troughs (on bottom), or corresponding [[zero crossings as shown.]]

AI overview

Wavelength is the distance between two identical points on a repeating wave, such as from one crest to the next crest. It matters because wavelength is a fundamental way to describe and measure waves, which are everywhere in nature—from light and sound to radio signals and water ripples.

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Image: Local wavelength.svg

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Commons category: Wavelength
Stack Exchange tag: physics.stackexchange.com/tags/wavelength

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~21 min read

Article

17 sections

Contents

Sinusoidal waves
Standing waves
Mathematical representation
General media
Nonuniform media
Crystals
More general waveforms
Wave packets
Interference and diffraction
Double-slit interference
Single-slit diffraction
Diffraction-limited resolution
Subwavelength
Angular wavelength
See also
References
External links

In physics and mathematics, wavelength or spatial period of a wave or periodic function is the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. In other words, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, troughs, or zero crossings. Wavelength is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns. The inverse of the wavelength is called the spatial frequency. Wavelength is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ). For a modulated wave, wavelength may refer to the carrier wavelength of the signal. The term wavelength may also apply to the repeating envelope of modulated waves or waves formed by interference of several sinusoids.