What Are the Standard Wavelengths of Light and Their Variations?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the standard wavelengths of light and their variations, emphasizing that the speed of light in a vacuum remains constant regardless of wavelength. Participants reference Maxwell's equations as foundational to understanding light's behavior and highlight the experimental basis for measuring light speed. Specific wavelengths are provided, including AM radio at 300 meters, FM at 3 meters, infrared from 1 to 100 microns, red light at 600 nanometers, and blue light at 400 nanometers. The conversation suggests a practical experiment using sunlight and a paper hole to measure light speed, reinforcing the importance of empirical testing in physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Maxwell's equations
  • Familiarity with the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Basic knowledge of experimental physics
  • Concept of light speed in a vacuum
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the experimental methods for measuring the speed of light
  • Study the electromagnetic spectrum and its various wavelengths
  • Explore the implications of Maxwell's equations in modern physics
  • Investigate the relationship between frequency and wavelength in light
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of light and its measurement techniques.

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Hello there, I am new to the sight and am curious to know if light has a standard wave length? And that maybe different spectrum's of light could possibly have different wave length- thus creating multiple speeds of light?
 
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The speed of light in a vacuum is independent of wavelength.
 
How would one make a model of that?
 
Questioner... said:
How would one make a model of that?
What do you mean?
 
How can one go about proving that?
 
My theory could proven wrong with a simple test, the sun- a standard would be my base unit of speed. I would focus a beam sunlight through a simple hole in a piece of paper and see where the shadow has cast. I would then proceed to cover the whole in the paper and use some sort of timer to depict the speed in which it takes the light to travel from the hole in the paper to the ground.

Now using this same model we can find out how fast a beam of Sunlight travels from point A: This piece of paper casting the shadow, to point B: the shadow on the ground.
I believe also we could find are exact angle to the sun? I am not sure though,

Please forgive me if you think it is a radical or stupid Idea, I am new to the subject of physics but I carry an open mind.
 
Questioner... said:
How can one go about proving that?

See the FAQ on the experimental basis of special relativity, in particular section 3.4, "Measurements of the Speed of Light, and Other Limits on it," which has a subsection "Limits on Velocity Variations with Frequency."
 
Questioner... said:
How can one go about proving that?
It can be derived from Maxwell's equations and properties of free space (which do not depend on wavelength). But the real "proof" is experimental, as jtbell indicated.
 
Wavelengths vary over many orders of magnitude; AM radio is about 300 meter wavelength, FM about 3 m, 1 GHz about 30 cm, infrared about 1 to 100 microns, red light about 600 nanometers, blue light about 400 nanometers, etc.
 

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