Difference Between Wavelength and Period
Main difference
The main difference between wavelength and period is that wavelength is defined as the shortest distance between two consecutive troughs or crests of a wave that are in phase, while period is the total time required to cover one complete oscillation. at a given point.
Wavelength vs Period
Wavelength can refer to the shortest distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave, while period can refer to the time required to complete one vibration in a given moment. Wavelength is used for distance measurement and calculation, while 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. The plot of wavelength can be done using the displacement versus position plot, while the plot of period can be made using the displacement versus time plot. Wavelength often denoted by λ , while the period often denoted by T.
Comparison chart
| Wavelength | Period |
| Wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave that are in phase. | The period is the total time required to cover a complete oscillation at a given point. |
| Denotation | |
| It is denoted by λ | T denotes it |
| Unit | |
| Its SI unit is the meter. | Its SI unit is the second |
| Representation in graph | |
| Use the displacement versus position graph | Using the graph of displacement vs. time |
| Relations | |
| It is related to spatial relationships | Relates to temporal relationships |
What is wavelength?
Wavelength refers to the shortest distance from the point on the wave to a similar point on the same wave. It deals with distance calculations and measurements. Wavelength 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. Wavelength is also sometimes used to represent modulated waves and is also applied to modulated sine waves which is formed by the interference of several sine waves. Wavelength also depends on the medium a wave travels through, such as vacuum, air, or water, etc. Waves that have higher frequencies will have shorter wavelengths, and waves that have lower frequencies will have longer wavelengths. The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum. In terms of transverse waves, wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive crests and troughs that are in the same phase in the same wave. In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions in the same wave. wavelength is also used to represent modulated waves and is also applied to modulated sine waves which is formed by the interference of several sine waves. Wavelength also depends on the medium a wave travels through, such as vacuum, air, or water, etc. Waves that have higher frequencies will have shorter wavelengths, and waves that have lower frequencies will have longer wavelengths. The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum. In terms of transverse waves, wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive crests and troughs that are in the same phase in the same wave. In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions in the same wave. wavelength is also used to represent modulated waves and is also applied to modulated sine waves which is formed by the interference of several sine waves. Wavelength also depends on the medium a wave travels through, such as vacuum, air, or water, etc. Waves that have higher frequencies will have shorter wavelengths, and waves that have lower frequencies will have longer wavelengths. The wavelength range for the wave process is called the spectrum. In terms of transverse waves, wavelength is the shortest distance between consecutive crests and troughs that are in the same phase in the same wave. In the case of longitudinal waves, the wavelength is the shortest distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions in the same wave.
What is the period?
The period is the total time required by the wave to complete its single vibration or oscillation in a given moment for 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 graph of displacement vs. time for period. When we talk about temporal relationships, we use period calculations. The period is represented by T. Its other units are milliseconds, microseconds, and kiloseconds. 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 lower, the longer 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.
Period Terms
- Orbital Period: The total time it takes for the object to move around the other object.
- Period of the pendulum: the total time it takes for the wave to move from one side to the other and vice versa.
Key differences
- The wavelength is the shortest between two successive crests or troughs that are in phase in the same wave, while the period is the total time it takes for the wave to complete one cycle at a given point.
- The wavelength is indicated by the Greek letter λ, while the period is indicated by T.
- Wavelength is the measurement and calculation of distance, while period is the measurement and calculation of an interval of time.
- Wavelength is used for spatial relationships, while period is used for temporal relationships.
- Wavelength has SI unit meters while period has SI unit seconds.
- For wavelength, plotting is done using the displacement versus position plot inversely for period, plotting is performed using the displacement versus time plot.
Final Thought
The above discussion concludes that wavelength and period are the two basic terms of the wave pattern. The wavelength is the straight distance between two consecutive points on the wave that are 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.