Wavelength Converter
Convert between various units of wavelength, including nanometers, micrometers, millimeters, meters, and more.
About Wavelength Units
Wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is a fundamental property of waves, including sound waves, light waves, and water waves. For electromagnetic waves, wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency, with longer wavelengths corresponding to lower frequencies.
Common Wavelength Units
- Nanometer (nm): 10-9 meters. Commonly used for visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation.
- Micrometer (μm): 10-6 meters. Used for infrared radiation, cell sizes, and dust particles.
- Millimeter (mm): 10-3 meters. Used for microwave radiation and small visible objects.
- Centimeter (cm): 10-2 meters. Used for microwaves and radio waves.
- Meter (m): The SI base unit of length. Used for radio waves.
- Kilometer (km): 103 meters. Used for very low frequency radio waves.
- Angstrom (Å): 10-10 meters. Used in atomic physics and X-ray crystallography.
Wavelength and Frequency Relationship
Wavelength (λ) and frequency (f) are inversely related through the speed of propagation (v), typically the speed of light for electromagnetic waves:
For electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, v is the speed of light (c ≈ 3 × 108 m/s).
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses a wide range of wavelengths:
| Type of Radiation | Wavelength Range | Applications/Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma rays | <10 pm | Medical imaging, sterilization, astronomy |
| X-rays | 10 pm - 10 nm | Medical diagnostics, security scanning |
| Ultraviolet (UV) | 10 nm - 380 nm | Sterilization, fluorescence, vitamin D synthesis |
| Visible light | 380 nm - 750 nm | Human vision, photography, plant photosynthesis |
| Infrared (IR) | 750 nm - 1 mm | Thermal imaging, remote controls, night vision |
| Microwave | 1 mm - 1 m | Cooking, radar, communications |
| Radio waves | 1 m - 100 km | Broadcasting, mobile phones, wireless networks |
Visible Light Spectrum
The visible light spectrum is a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see:
- Violet: 380-450 nm
- Blue: 450-495 nm
- Green: 495-570 nm
- Yellow: 570-590 nm
- Orange: 590-620 nm
- Red: 620-750 nm
Wavelength Applications
- Optics and Photonics: Designing lenses, filters, and optical instruments based on wavelength properties.
- Telecommunications: Different wavelengths of light carry different signals in fiber optic communications.
- Spectroscopy: Analyzing materials by examining their interaction with different wavelengths of light.
- Astronomy: Studying celestial objects across different wavelengths reveals different properties.
- Medical Imaging: Various wavelengths are used for different diagnostic techniques like X-rays, MRI, and ultrasound.
- Material Science: Understanding how materials interact with different wavelengths is crucial for developing new technologies.