Wavelength and Frequency

[collegelife101]

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As the frequency of a wave is increased, which of the following must decrease?
Period
Amplitude
Wavelength
Speed

The answer was period because it is the inverse, but what about wavelength? Aren't frequency and wavelength proportional?

 

[jlescher]

If this was talking about electromagnetic waves, then you would be correct in your thinking because the speed of light is constant. For any other wave, you could hold wavelength constant and simply increase the speed. Increasing the speed would cause the frequency to increase without changing anything about wavelength. The key word in this question is "must". Period is the only thing that must change if frequency changes.

 

[syoung]

no?
v = lamda*freq.

 

[pepocho]

.

 

[jlescher]

.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

The answer was period because it is the inverse, but what about wavelength? Aren't frequency and wavelength proportional?

Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to one another with a constant velocity.