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wavelength

Spatial period of the wave; the distance over which the wave's shape repeats; the inverse of the spatial frequency

Entitymathematical concept concept in physicsQ41364

Instance of: mathematical concept
, concept in physics
Subclass of: distance
, physical quantity
, period
+1 more

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

In physics and mathematics, wavelength or spatial period of a wave or periodic function is the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. In other words, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, troughs, or zero crossings. Wavelength is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns. The inverse of the wavelength is called the spatial frequency. Wavelength is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ). For a modulated wave, wavelength may refer to the carrier wavelength of the signal. The term wavelength may also apply to the repeating envelope of modulated waves or waves formed by interference of several sinusoids.

Overview

All data

76 statements · 16% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Main Wikidata property: minimum wavelength of sensitivity
maximum wavelength of sensitivity
wavelength
ISQ dimension: \mathsf{L}
Quantity symbol (LaTeX): \lambda
Recommended unit of measurement: metre
2
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-3:2019 Quantities and units — Part 3: Space and time
2.Stated in ISO 80000-3:2006 Quantities and units — Part 3: Space and time
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Notation: Λ
Different from: sound wavelength
electromagnetic wavelength

On other databases

42 identifiers linking wavelength across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

16%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 10, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). wavelength (Q41364). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/wavelength-Q41364