I Can the wavelength of electromagnetic waves infinitely close to 0hz

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether a wavelength can approach infinity and if it can exceed the observable universe. It is established that while a wavelength can approach infinity, it can never actually be 0 Hz, as wavelength and frequency are fundamentally different dimensions. Signals radiate towards infinity but diminish in amplitude over distance, meaning they will not fill the entire expanding universe. The conversation also touches on the philosophical implications of measuring such wavelengths, concluding that without a practical experiment, the topic veers into philosophy and is deemed off-topic. Ultimately, the inability to measure the difference renders the question largely theoretical.
nmz
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
TL;DR Summary
To obtain the wavelength =∞m∞m, it needs to be at 0k, also known as absolute zero. According to the definition, an object with absolute zero will not emit electromagnetic radiation.
Although it is theoretically impossible to have an infinite wavelength with the size of the entire infinite universe, when the wavelength frequency is infinitely close to 0hz, can such a wavelength exceed the observable universe and be infinitely close to the entire infinite universe? It is assumed here that the size of the universe is infinite.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
nmz said:
can such a wavelength exceed the observable universe and be infinitely close to the entire infinite universe?
As in your other closely related thread, how could you measure the difference?

Please answer the question this time.
 
Can the wavelength approach infinity? Yes.
If you rotate an isolated bar magnet through 180° once, it will radiate a constant field from that time forwards, until the end of time, well beyond your ability to observe it.
 
  • Like
Likes nmz
Baluncore said:
Can the wavelength approach infinity? Yes.
If you rotate an isolated bar magnet through 180° once, it will radiate a constant field from that time forwards, until the end of time, well beyond your ability to observe it.
So what you mean is that a wavelength infinitely close to 0hz can exceed the observable universe and approach the size of the infinite universe?
 
nmz said:
So what you mean is that a wavelength infinitely close to 0hz can exceed the observable universe and approach the size of the infinite universe?
A wavelength can approach infinity, but can never be 0 Hz, because you cannot compare the wavelength to a frequency. One has the dimension of length, the other is reciprocal time.

Every signal ever generated, radiates towards infinity. That EM wave will never fill the entire expanding universe, because the universe started expanding billions of years earlier.

Radiated signals become lower in amplitude as they travel. If a signal propagated for infinite time, it would approach ∞ distance, with an amplitude of 1/∞² ≈ 0.
 
Baluncore said:
A wavelength can approach infinity, but can never be 0 Hz, because you cannot compare the wavelength to a frequency. One has the dimension of length, the other is reciprocal time.

Every signal ever generated, radiates towards infinity. That EM wave will never fill the entire expanding universe, because the universe started expanding billions of years earlier.

Radiated signals become lower in amplitude as they travel. If a signal propagated for infinite time, it would approach ∞ distance, with an amplitude of 1/∞² ≈ 0.
Even if the wavelength cannot exceed or reach the size of the whole universe.But can a wavelength infinitely close to 0hz be infinitely close to the size of the whole universe?
 
nmz said:
Then, can the wavelength infinitely close to 0hz exceed the size of the observable universe and infinitely close to the whole infinite universe?
You keep avoiding the question: how could you measure the difference?

So I will answer it for you. You cannot.

Since you cannot measure the difference, this question is philosophy and is therefore off topic on this site. It is closed as are all future instances that you might post without establishing that it is not philosophy by describing a suggested experiment.
 
Last edited:
  • Love
  • Like
Likes davenn and weirdoguy

Similar threads

Back
Top