Question

X-rays typically have a wavelength of around 1x10^(-9)m. What is the frequency of the X-ray

Answer 1

The speed v of a wave is related to its wavelength λ and its frequency f as follows:

$v=\lambda f$

X-rays are electromagnetic radiation, whose speed is the same as the speed of light c:

$c\approx300,000,000\frac{m}{s}$

Isolate f from the equation and substitute the values for the speed and the wavelength to find the frequency of x-rays:

$\begin{gathered} f=\frac{v}{\lambda} \\ =\frac{300,000,000\frac{m}{s}}{1\times10^{-9}m^{}} \\ =3\times10^{17}\frac{1}{s} \\ =3\times10^{17}Hz \end{gathered}$

Therefore, the frequency of the X-ray, is:

$3\times10^{17^{}}Hz$