Longerwavelength

Longer wavelength refers to a wave whose distance between successive crests is greater than that of another wave. In the context of electromagnetic radiation, wavelength λ is related to frequency f by the equation c = λ f, where c is the speed of light in vacuum; thus longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies. The energy of individual photons depends on frequency via E = h f, so longer-wavelength radiation carries less energy per photon.

In the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength increases from gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet through visible light to infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. Radio waves have wavelengths from millimeters to thousands of kilometers, far longer than visible light. Longer wavelengths interact with matter differently: they diffract around large obstacles, penetrate certain materials more effectively, and suffer less attenuation in some media, but they typically offer lower data capacity for a given bandwidth than shorter wavelengths.

Applications and implications: longer-wavelength systems such as AM radio, VHF/UHF broadcasting, and many maritime or submarine communications use large antennas and can cover long distances with relatively modest power. In optics, longer wavelengths reduce image resolution but can penetrate fog, rain, or atmospheric scattering more readily than shorter wavelengths. In acoustics, longer-wavelength (low-frequency) sound travels farther in air and through obstacles, but requires larger sound sources and structures to produce or harness effectively.