Which of the following best describes the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic radiation?

• A. Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional; as wavelength increases, frequency decreases.
• B. Wavelength and frequency are unrelated; changing one does not affect the other.
• C. Wavelength and frequency are both constant for all types of electromagnetic radiation.
• D. Wavelength and frequency are directly proportional; as wavelength increases, frequency increases.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the fundamental relationship between the speed of light (\(c\)), wavelength (\(\lambda\)), and frequency (\(\nu\)) of electromagnetic radiation, which is given by the equation: \(c = \lambda \times \nu\).
2. Understand that the speed of light (\(c\)) in a vacuum is a constant value, approximately \$3.00 \times 10^{8}$ meters per second.
3. Since \(c\) is constant, if the wavelength (\(\lambda\)) increases, the frequency (\(\nu\)) must decrease to keep the product \(\lambda \times \nu\) equal to \(c\).
4. This means wavelength and frequency have an inverse proportionality: when one goes up, the other goes down.
5. Therefore, the correct description is that wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional; as wavelength increases, frequency decreases.