# As the frequency of a wave traveling at constant speed increases, what decreases?

Feb 21, 2018

The wavelength decreases.

#### Explanation:

There is an inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength. If the speed is held constant, as frequency increases, the wavelength must decrease.

Think of light waves traveling through space in a vacuum. The speed of light is 3.0 x 10^8 m/s in a vacuum.

If the light waves begin to strike an object more and more frequently, then the wavelength must be getting shorter.

You might imagine the color of the light shifting from red to blue since the wavelength of blue light is shorter than the wavelength of red light, even though they both travel at the same speed.

Feb 21, 2018

The wavelength decreases.

#### Explanation:

Frequency is defined with the equation,

$\text{frequency"="wave speed"/"wavelength}$

When the wave speed is constant, let's say it has a value of $k$, then we get the equation,

$\text{frequency"=k/"wavelength}$

Therefore, frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength, or

$\text{frequency"prop1/"wavelength}$

So, as the wave speed increases, then the wavelength decreases.
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