The frequency of an electromagnetic wave is directly proportional to its energy. This means:
- When the frequency of the wave increases, its energy also increases.
- When the frequency decreases, its energy decreases.
This relationship exists because electromagnetic waves carry energy in discrete packets called photons, and each photon’s energy depends on the wave’s frequency.
In simple terms:
Higher frequency → higher energy photons
Lower frequency → lower energy photons
So, for example, gamma rays have very high frequencies and very high energies, while radio waves have low frequencies and low energies.