This tool converts the Frequency of a radio wave in MHz to its equivalent Wavelength in Miles
Calculator
Enter
- Frequency (default unit is MHz although it can be switched to Hz, kHz or GHz using the drop down menu)
- Speed of light – The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (186,282 miles per second). This constant speed is often rounded to 300,000 kilometers per second for easier calculation.
Example Calculation
- A frequency of 10 MHz converts to an equivalent wavelength of 0.01863 Miles
- A frequency of 1 MHz converts to an equivalent wavelength of 0.1863 Miles
As the frequency increases, the wavelength increases
Frequency and Wavelength
The relationship between frequency and wavelength in electromagnetic waves is fundamental and inverse. This relationship is governed by the equation v = f λ, where v is the speed of the wave, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength. For all electromagnetic waves traveling through a vacuum, the speed ( v ) is constant and equal to the speed of light, approximately ( 299,792 ) kilometers per second.
When considering this relationship, if the frequency of the wave increases, the wavelength must decrease to maintain the constant speed of light, and vice versa.
This inverse relationship is important in understanding the behavior of different types of electromagnetic waves across the spectrum—from radio waves, which have long wavelengths and low frequencies, to gamma rays, which possess very short wavelengths and high frequencies.
An understanding of this relationship is important in applications such as radio broadcasting, where varying the frequency of the signal alters the wavelength emitted by the antenna, influencing how far and how well the signal can travel and be received.