Question

Identify the waves with the largest wavelength.

Answer 1

Hint: We know that waves are disturbances which can be described by the wave equation. The disturbance of the waves is periodic where the particles of the waves oscillate to and fro their mean equilibrium position. Thus we can also say that waves reproduce SHM motion.

Complete step-by-step solution:
There are various types of waves, depending on the nature of propagation they can be classified as with or without medium and the longitudinal and transverse waves. The waves can be represented as sine or cosine waves.
Other characteristics of the waves are the frequency and the wavelength of the wave. Based on these two factors the Electromagnetic spectrum is built. The famous scientist James Clerk Maxwell proved that the EM waves are affected by both electrical and magnetic fields and hence the name.
The EM spectrum is arranged different types of waves in the order of highest to lowest energy level or in the increasing order of the wavelength in nanometres or in the decreasing order of their respective frequencies as shown in the figure below

Thus from the above chart, we can conclude that radio waves are the waves with the longest wavelength and hence minimum frequency.

Note: The ratio between the frequency and wavelength of the wave is a constant, which is the speed of light. Hence we can also say that frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other. In the wide spectrum of waves, only a small region called the visible region can be seen by the naked eye.