Light Waves And Color Formula

Light Waves And Color Formula

Light waves, like other types of waves, carry energy from their source. They are composed of discrete energy particles called photons. Photons have motion and energy, even though they have no mass. Certain light waves cannot be seen by human vision, just as some sounds cannot be heard because they are outside the range of human hearing. Wavelength and frequency, on the other hand, are characteristics shared by all types of waves. The wavelength of a wave is the distance between neighbouring segments of the wave (e.g., crest to crest or trough to trough). The number of waves passing at a fixed point at a specific moment. 

The visible light is released and absorbed by photons, which have both wave and particle properties, and this trait is known as wave-particle duality.

What is Wavelength of Light?

The wavelength of light is a fundamental property that describes the spatial extent of a light wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. It specifically refers to the distance between successive crests or troughs of a light wave, which are the points of maximum and minimum amplitude, respectively.

Light waves may be measured in two ways.

• Wave’s Amplitude.
• Frequency of the wave and the number of waves per second.

The light waves are classified based on the frequencies that exhibit comparable properties in the electromagnetic spectrum of light. The subdivisions of each spectrum change based on the wave frequency.

The colour of the Light Waves and Color Formula is determined by the degree of reflection from the objects on which the white light falls. For example, the white wall appears because it reflects all of the colours back.

The visible light is released and absorbed by photons, which have both wave and particle properties, and this trait is known as wave-particle duality.

Any colour that appears on any surface is the colour that is reflected off the item when light falls on it.

Light Wave and Colour Formula

The light waves and color formula are as follows:

c = ν x λ

where

• c = speed of light
• v = frequency
• λ= wavelength

Solved Examples on Light Waves and Colour Formula

Example 1: Calculate the wavelength of light that has a frequency of \(5 \times 10^{14}\) Hz.

Solution:

Given:
Frequency (\(f\)): \(5 \times 10^{14}\) Hz

The speed of light in a vacuum, \(c\), is approximately \(3 \times 10^8\) meters per second (\(m/s\)). The relationship between wavelength (\(\lambda\)), frequency (\(f\)), and the speed of light (\(c\)) is given by:
\[ c = \lambda \cdot f \]

1. Substitute the given frequency into the formula:
\[ 3 \times 10^8 = \lambda \cdot 5 \times 10^{14} \]

2. Solve for the wavelength (\(\lambda\)):
\[ \lambda = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{5 \times 10^{14}} \]

3. Simplify the expression:
\[ \lambda = \frac{3}{5} \times 10^{-6} \]

4. Convert to meters:
\[ \lambda = 0.6 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m} \]
\[ \lambda = 600 \, \text{nm} \]

Answer: The wavelength of light with a frequency of \(5 \times 10^{14}\) Hz is \(600\) nanometers (nm).

Example 2: A light wave has a wavelength of \(500\) nanometers (nm). Calculate its frequency.

Solution:

Given:

Wavelength (\(\lambda\)): \(500\) nm

1. Convert the wavelength from nanometers to meters:
\[ \lambda = 500 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{m} \]

2. Use the formula \( c = \lambda \cdot f \), where \( c \) is the speed of light (\(3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}\)):
\[ 3 \times 10^8 = (500 \times 10^{-9}) \cdot f \]

3. Solve for the frequency (\( f \)):
\[ f = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{500 \times 10^{-9}} \]

4. Simplify the expression:
\[ f = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{5 \times 10^{-7}} \]

5. Calculate the frequency:
\[ f = 6 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \]

Answer: The frequency of light with a wavelength of \(500\) nm is \(6 \times 10^{14}\) Hz.

Certainly! Let’s go with another example involving the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and the speed of light.

Example 3: A light wave has a wavelength of \(600\) nanometers (nm). Calculate its frequency.

Solution:

Given:

Wavelength (\(\lambda\)): \(600\) nm

1. Convert the wavelength from nanometers to meters:
\[ \lambda = 600 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{m} \]

2. Use the formula \( c = \lambda \cdot f \), where \( c \) is the speed of light (\(3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}\)):
\[ 3 \times 10^8 = (600 \times 10^{-9}) \cdot f \]

3. Solve for the frequency (\( f \)):
\[ f = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{600 \times 10^{-9}} \]

4. Simplify the expression:
\[ f = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{0.0006} \]

5. Calculate the frequency:
\[ f = 5 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \]

Answer: The frequency of light with a wavelength of \(600\) nm is \(5 \times 10^{14}\) Hz.