# Why frequency is more fundamental than wavelength?

Please any one explain that why frequency is more fundamental than wavelength inspire wavelength and frequency depend upon each other again frequency and wave number are also depends upon each other
Then why we take the frequency as independent of wave number

andrewkirk
Homework Helper
Gold Member
I haven't noticed writing that treats one as more fundamental than the other, but I can see why one might wish to think of it that way.

Frequency does not change as the medium through which the wave is travelling changes, but wavelength does. As light goes from vacuum to air to glass, its speed changes, and its wavelength changes accordingly, but the frequency remains the same.

robphy
Homework Helper
Gold Member
To the source, the frequency seems more fundamental... (as andrewkirk says, the wavelength of the resulting disturbance depends on its propagation speed in the surrounding medium).

Staff Emeritus
2021 Award
explain that why frequency is more fundamental than wavelength

Who says that it is?

ZapperZ
Staff Emeritus
Please any one explain that why frequency is more fundamental than wavelength inspire wavelength and frequency depend upon each other again frequency and wave number are also depends upon each other
Then why we take the frequency as independent of wave number

1. You may want to consider the use of punctuation.

2. This requires CONTEXT. As has been stated, while frequency doesn't change when light goes from one medium to another, this DOES NOT make frequency "more fundamental".

3. Why does this matter?

Zz.