Moving across the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves toward gamma rays, frequency climbs steadily. What happens to wavelength and to energy over that same climb?
AWavelength rises and energy falls together
BWavelength falls but energy also falls
CWavelength rises and energy also rises
DWavelength falls and energy rises together
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Wavelength falls and energy rises together
1. As frequency increases across the spectrum, wavelength decreases, since the two are inversely related.
2. Energy also increases with frequency, so a climb toward gamma rays raises both frequency and energy.
3. Wavelength therefore falls while energy rises, which is the opposite of an option that pairs a rising wavelength with rising energy.
4. An option that has wavelength and energy both falling ignores the direct link between rising frequency and rising energy.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 15 "Light", section 15.1 The Electromagnetic Spectrum_
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