As the wavelength of electromagnetic waves decreases, what happens to their frequency and energy?

When considering electromagnetic waves, there is a fundamental relationship among wavelength, frequency, and energy described by the wave equation and Planck's relation. As the wavelength decreases, it leads to an increase in frequency. This is because frequency and wavelength are inversely related; as the wavelength becomes shorter, the number of wave cycles that pass a given point in a second (frequency) increases.

Furthermore, energy of electromagnetic waves is directly related to their frequency through Planck’s equation, which states that energy is equal to the product of Planck's constant and the frequency of the wave (E = hν). Consequently, as the frequency increases with a decreasing wavelength, the energy associated with the wave also increases.

Thus, the observation that both frequency and energy increase when the wavelength decreases is a key principle in the study of electromagnetic radiation, making this answer clearly valid based on established scientific concepts.