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Bored
Lv 7
Bored asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 1 decade ago

need help with wavelength problem?

an FM radio station broadcasts at 98.4 MHz. calculate the wavelength of the corresponding radio waves.

the formula is C=λν

how many Hz are in a MHz? 1000?

i have to change the formula so that λ= C/v right?

i tried to get an answer but it doesn't match the answer key.

Update:

sorry

by v i meant frequency

5 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    That is an interesting formula! Personally I would say the formula is v = fλ. Although c and v are interchangeable because you are talking about the speed of light here. Although I wouldn't use v, because it really stands for the wave number, rather than the frequency, but what the hey!

    So, c = fλ. You are looking for λ, so as you said, you rearrange it to λ = c/f.

    You have c. It is 3 x 10^8 m/s.

    You have f. It is 1000 x 10^6 Hz. (1 MHz is 1 x 10^6 Hz).

    Then you just slot the numbers in to the formula and do the maths:

    λ = 3 x 10^8 / 1000 x 10^6

    λ = 0.3 metres.

  • 1 decade ago

    All radio waves travel at the speed of light, C.

    1 MHz is 1 million Hz = 10^6 Hz

    v = 98.4 x 10^6 Hz

    C = 3 x 10^8 m/s

    So, use the formula you provided.

    λ= C/v

    λ= (3 x 10^8)/(98.4 x 10^6)

    λ= 0.305 m

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Do you have a textbook? there will be an element discussing the relationship between frequency and wavelength. For any wave, the made of the wavelength and the frequency equals the cost of the wave. So, for mild Frequency X wavelength = c (the cost of sunshine). that could desire to permit you paintings out the respond to the question.

  • damex
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    V=fλ u are not really right by using c an v because both mean same thing(speed)

    V=fλ λ=V/f=330/1000000=0.000033m(this is too small to transmit,the waves can never be transmitted.)but if I had used speed of light as v instead of speed of sound,maybe it would have made more sense.

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  • 1 decade ago

    The first answerer was close, but dropped a power of 10 somehow.

    I get 3.049 m

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