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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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wavelength

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'wavelength' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word to refer to the amount of space between two successive crests of a series of waves, such as light or sound waves. For example, "The wavelength of visible light ranges from 380nm to 780nm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They found a strong relationship between the outgoing long wavelength radiation (infrared energy) and temperature; however, this relationship varies substantially across the planet.

News & Media

The Guardian

The proteins and DNA within us cannot be seen even with the best light microscopes since they are far smaller than the wavelength of light.

News & Media

The Guardian

But after a few weeks I began to meet people who were actually on my wavelength, and who soon became the people I sat with in lectures and met up with outside class.

News & Media

The Guardian

The deal is not yet quite set in stone – the 42-year-old Bjorkman will join Murray for a week's trial only when he is finished with his commitment on Let's Dance, Swedish TV's version of Strictly Come Dancing – but it's already clear the two are on the same wavelength.

Ordinary light microscopes cannot, however, resolve objects smaller than about 200 nanometres (nm, or millionths of a millimetre), or approximately half the wavelength of visible red light, so anything of this size or smaller appears blurred.

News & Media

The Guardian

The most general form of the basic wave equation, appearing everywhere from classical mechanics through electromagnetism to quantum physics, is this: x = A × cos (ω × t + d / λ) where λ is the wavelength (the distance between one peak of the wave and the next) and d is the distance along the wave.

In order for this trick to work, though, the distance between the antennae has to be smaller than the wavelength of the light being focused.

News & Media

The Economist

This material preferentially absorbs, and is thus heated and expanded by, infra-red radiation with a wavelength of three microns (millionths of a metre).

News & Media

The Economist

If the signature of an element is found at a wavelength that is slightly to the blue side of what experiments in a laboratory show, this means the star is moving towards the earth, making the wavelength of the light it was emitting slightly shorter.

News & Media

The Economist

When struck by light of the right wavelength, a marked cell will thus fluoresce.To make that happen, the treated cells are spread on a glass slide and scanned with a laser of the correct wavelength.

News & Media

The Economist

Next year, the International Committee on Weights and Measures will discuss whether to tie it to something called Planck's constant, a number in quantum mechanics that relates the energy level of a photon to its wavelength.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the properties of light or other electromagnetic waves, use "wavelength" to specify the distance between wave crests or troughs. Ensure that you are using the correct units (e.g., nanometers, meters) when quantifying "wavelength".

Common error

Avoid interchanging "wavelength" with "frequency". "Wavelength" measures the distance between wave crests, while frequency measures the number of wave cycles per unit time. They are inversely proportional, so an increase in one results in a decrease in the other.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The term "wavelength" functions primarily as a noun, representing a measurable property of waves. Ludwig examples show its use in scientific and technical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wavelength" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun, predominantly in scientific and technical contexts. Ludwig examples from news media, scientific journals, and online wikis illustrate its broad applicability. Ludwig AI confirms the term's correctness and usability. The key is to use it accurately, understanding its relationship to frequency and its role in describing wave properties. Common errors involve confusing it with related terms or using incorrect units. By following best practices, writers can effectively and precisely communicate using the term "wavelength".

FAQs

How is "wavelength" measured?

The "wavelength" is typically measured as the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave. It is often expressed in units like nanometers (nm) for light or meters (m) for other types of waves.

What is the relationship between "wavelength" and color?

For visible light, different wavelengths correspond to different colors. Shorter wavelengths are associated with blue and violet light, while longer wavelengths are associated with red light. The human eye perceives these different wavelengths as different colors.

How does "wavelength" relate to frequency?

"Wavelength" and frequency are inversely proportional. This means that as the "wavelength" increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa. This relationship is described by the equation: speed of light = "wavelength" x frequency.

What's the difference between "wavelength" and "wave amplitude"?

"Wavelength" is the distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave, while "wave amplitude" is the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position. "Wavelength" relates to the wave's spatial extent, and "wave amplitude" indicates the wave's intensity or strength.

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Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: