This applet models the relationship between wavelength and frequency for visible light. Click on the "wave+" to increase the wavelength of light by two nanometers, and click on "wave-" to decrease the wavelength by two nanometers.
The current wavelength is displayed in a table in the right half of the applet, followed by the frequency in Tera Hertz (10 12 s -1). The frequency ν is equal to c / λ, where c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength.
Notice the visualization of a light wave to the left of the applet, and how the increase or decrease of the wavelength is depicted. The color in which the wave is displayed is significant; when the wavelength range is that of red light, the wave is displayed as red. When the range is appropraite for green, the wave is displayed as green. Once the boundaries of the visible spectrum have been exceeded, the wave color shifts to pink (on the infrared side) or to gray (on the ultraviolet side).
© 2003-2011 by Lawrence T. Sein. All rights reserved.
Send questions to: lseinjr@hotmail.com