BasicB-005-007-007

What happens to a signal's frequency as its wavelength gets shorter?

C
Answer
Transmitters, receivers, and measurements
Type
A
It decreases proportionally to frequency squared
B
It decreases
C
It increases
D
It increases proportionally to frequency squared

Answer Notes

This question explores the inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength. Because radio waves propagate at the constant speed of light, shortening the physical distance of one complete wave (the wavelength) means that more waves will pass a specific point in a single second. Since frequency is the measure of how many waves pass per second, a shorter wavelength directly results in a higher frequency. As one value goes down, the other must go up. Distractors mentioning a 'squared' relationship are incorrect because the math relies on simple division (Frequency = Speed of Light / Wavelength), not exponents.
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