wavelength - technical definition

The length of an electromagnetic waveform, wavelength ( ) is inversely proportional to frequency (f). As the frequency of the signal (number of cycles per second) increases, the wavelength (length of the electromagnetic waveform) of the signal decreases. In other words, the more waveforms transmitted per second, the shorter the length, or cycle, of each individual wave. Figure W-1 illustrates the relationship between frequency and wavelength -- as the frequency doubles, the wavelength halves. f2 = 2 f1 Signals in electrical and radio networks are defined in terms of frequency and described in terms of cycles per second (cps) traditionally, and Hertz (Hz) in a contemporary context. Once the frequency of the electromagnetic signals exceeds the extremely high frequency (EHF) of level of 300 GHz and crosses into the infrared light (IR) range of the optical spectrum, however, Hz no longer has relevance as either a bandwidth measurement or a signal descriptor. The numbers are just too large and difficult to express. Rather, wavelength is used in the optical domain to describe the nature of the signal. By way of illustration, consider that the upper range of an analog voice channel is 4 kHz.The velocity of propagation of all electromagnetic energy in a vacuum is roughly that of the speed of light, or 300,000 kilometers per second. The velocity of electromagnetic energy through a copper wire is approximately 60