Word Net

wavelength

1 the distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave

2 a shared orientation leading to mutual understanding; "they are on the same wavelength"

Moby Thesaurus

amplitude, antinode, carrier, carrier wave, crest, de Broglie wave, diffraction, electric wave, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, frequency, frequency band, frequency spectrum, ground wave, guided wave, hertzian wave, high-frequency wave, in phase, interference, light, long wave, longitudinal wave, low-frequency wave, mechanical wave, microwave, node, out of phase, period, periodic wave, radio wave, ray, reinforcement, resonance, resonance frequency, seismic wave, shock wave, shortwave, sky wave, sound wave, surface wave, tidal wave, transverse wave, trough, wave, wave equation, wave motion, wave number

English

Etymology

From wave + length.

Pronunciation

• /ˈweɪvlɛŋθ/

Noun

1. The length of a single cycle of a wave, as measured by the distance between one peak or trough of a wave and the next; it is often designated in physics as λ, and corresponds to the velocity of the wave divided by its frequency.

Derived terms

• shortwave
• mediumwave
• longwave
• on the same wavelength

Translations

In physics wavelength is the distance between repeating units of a propagating wave of a given frequency. It is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Examples of wave-like phenomena are light, water waves, and sound waves.

• Angular frequency
• Frequency
• Fraunhofer lines, spectral lines traditionally used as standard optical wavelength references
• Periodic function
• Wave vector

External links

• Conversion: Wavelength to Frequency and vice versa - Sound waves and radio waves
• Teaching resource for 14-16yrs on sound including wavelength