21 June 2020

Difference Between Frequency and Wavelength

Frequency and wavelength both quantities that come in the study for electronics science. In everyday usage the two terms may have similar connotations, however, in electronic science, the two terms have two separate meanings. Here this article gives the main key difference between them to better understand this topic.

Definition of frequency:


Frequency is defined as the number of vibrations or oscillation present in a wave in a unit time. The SI unit of measuring the frequency is hertz, shortly written as Hz.


Definition of wavelength:


The minimum distance between two consecutive identical wave points is known as the wavelength. As it specifies the distance thus its SI unit is meter.

The main key difference between frequency and wavelength:


  • Frequency measures the time whereas wavelength measures the distance.
  • The completed wave in unit time is called frequency, while the total length of the complete wave is called the wavelength.
  • Frequency is denoted by f, while the wavelength is denoted by λ.
  • Hertz is the measuring unit of frequency, while a meter is the measuring unit of wavelength.
  • Frequency defined the total number of occurrence of oscillations in a unit time. While wavelength is defined as the length of a wave.
  • Frequency also called the inverse of the time period, the wavelength is called distance covered by the wave.
  • Frequency is the number of times in which the sound wave occurs, while the wavelength is the distance between sound waves.
  • Frequency is a measure of time, the wavelength is a measure of distance.
  • An audible sound wave possesses a frequency range of 20 to 20 kHz, but the wavelength of visible light range from 400 to 700 nm.
  • Frequency is used to measure the recurrence of the sound wave, the wavelength is used to measure the length of sound waves.
  • In relation to speed, frequency is the ratio of speed and wavelength, while wavelength is the ratio of speed and frequency.
  • Frequency can be determined by the number of times sound hits a peak or through, while wavelength can be determined depending upon the crests, troughs, or zero-crossings through which sound passes.
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