Physics

# Difference between wavelength and period

The main difference between wavelength and period is that wavelength is defined as the shortest distance between two consecutive valleys or crests of a wave that are in phase, while the period is the total time required to cover a complete oscillation. at a given point.

## Key differences

• The wavelength is the shortest between two successive peaks or valleys that are in phase on the same wave, while the period is the total time it takes for the wave to complete one cycle at a given point.
• Wavelength is the measurement and calculations of distance, while period is the measurement and calculations of a time interval.
• The wavelength has meters as the SI unit, while the period has seconds as the SI unit.
• The wavelength is indicated by the Greek letter λ, while the period is indicated by T.
• Wavelength is used for spatial relationships, while period is used for temporal relationships.
• For wavelength, plotting is done using shift versus position plot inverse for period, plotting is using shift vs. time plot.

## Wavelength vs. Period

Wavelength can refer to the shortest distance between two successive crests or valleys of a wave, while period can refer to the time taken to complete one vibration at a given time. Wavelength is used for distance measurement and calculation, while the period is used for time interval measurement and calculation.

Wavelength uses the meter as an SI unit, while period uses the second as an SI unit. Plotting for wavelength can be done using the displacement versus position plot while plotting for a period can be done using the displacement versus time plot. Wavelength is often denoted by λ, while the period is often denoted by T.

## What is the wavelength?

Wavelength refers to the shortest distance from the point of the wave to a similar point on the same wave. Deals with distance calculations and measurements. Wavelength is often denoted by the Greek letter λ. When we talk about spatial relationships, we use wavelength.

For plotting, we use the displacement versus position plot for wavelength. Wavelength also represents the various repeating patterns of traveling energy, such as sound and light. This process also involves distinguishing one type of wave from another.

Wavelength is also measured in kilometers, meters, microseconds, milliseconds, and even smaller units like picometers, nanometers, and femtometers. The shorter units are used for measurements of smaller wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, such as X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, and gamma rays.

Sometimes wavelength is also used to represent modulated waves and also applies to modulated sine waves which are formed by the interference of various sine waves. The wavelength also depends on the medium through which a wave travels, such as a vacuum, air or water, etc. Waves that have higher frequencies will have a shorter wavelength and waves that have lower frequencies will have higher wavelengths.

The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum. In terms of shear waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive peaks and valleys that are in the same phase on the same wave. In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions on the same wave.

Wavelength is also used to represent modulated waves and also applies to modulated sine waves which are formed by the interference of various sine waves. The wavelength also depends on the medium through which a wave travels, such as a vacuum, air or water, etc.

Waves that have higher frequencies will have a shorter wavelength and waves that have lower frequencies will have higher wavelengths. The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum. In terms of shear waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive peaks and valleys that are in the same phase on the same wave.

In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions on the same wave. Wavelength is also used to represent modulated waves and also applies to modulated sine waves which are formed by the interference of various sine waves.

The wavelength also depends on the medium through which a wave travels, such as a vacuum, air or water, etc. Waves that have higher frequencies will have a shorter wavelength and waves that have lower frequencies will have higher wavelengths. The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum.

In terms of shear waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive peaks and valleys that are in the same phase on the same wave. In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions on the same wave.

## What is the period?

The period is the total time required by the wave to complete its only vibration or oscillation at a given moment by the same wave. The period is used to measure and calculate the time interval. The period of the SI unit is the second. The representation of the graph can be done using the displacement vs. time for a period. When we talk about temporal relationships, we use period calculations. The period is represented by T.

Its other units are milliseconds, microseconds, and kilo seconds. For a smaller period, we use picoseconds, nanoseconds, and femtoseconds. The period is the reciprocal of the frequency. The higher the frequency, the shorter the period and the shorter the period.

In other words, if the frequency is a large period, it will be small, and if the frequency is small, the period will be great. The time it takes for the wave to complete one wavelength is called the period. The period can also be found by dividing the total time by the number of vibrations.

### Key terms

• Orbital period: the total time it takes for the object to move around the other object.
• Pendulum period: the total time it takes for the wave to move from one side to the other and vice versa.

## Conclution for Difference between wavelength and period

The above discussion concludes that wavelength and period are the two basic terms of the wave pattern. Wavelength is the straight distance between two consecutive points on the wave that is in the same phase, while the period is the total time it takes for the wave to complete its single vibration or cycle at the same point by the similar wave.