Technician 2022-2026T3B06
What is the formula for converting frequency to approximate wavelength in meters?
D
Answer
Radio wave propagation
Type
A
Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz multiplied by 300
B
Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz divided by 300
C
Wavelength in meters equals frequency in megahertz divided by 300
D
Wavelength in meters equals 300 divided by frequency in megahertz
Answer Notes
The relationship between a radio wave's frequency and its wavelength is inversely proportional, linked by the speed of light. Because radio waves travel at approximately 300,000,000 meters per second in a vacuum, the fundamental formula is Wavelength (in meters) = 300,000,000 / Frequency (in Hertz).
To make mental math easier, amateur radio operators simplify this equation by scaling it down by a factor of one million. By measuring the frequency in Megahertz (MHz) instead of Hertz, the 300,000,000 also shrinks to 300, resulting in the handy formula: Wavelength = 300 / Frequency in MHz.
The distractors are incorrect because they either use the wrong mathematical operation (multiplying instead of dividing) or use the unscaled unit of Hertz with the scaled-down number 300, which would yield a mathematically impossible result.
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What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?
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In addition to frequency, which of the following is used to identify amateur radio bands?