Which statement accurately describes the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and image quality?

• A. Frequency does not affect wavelength
• B. Wavelength is independent of frequency
• C. Higher frequency yields longer wavelength and higher resolution
• D. Higher frequency yields shorter wavelength and higher resolution

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that frequency and wavelength are linked and that image quality improves as wavelength gets shorter. In most imaging contexts, the wave speed in the medium is roughly fixed, so wavelength = speed divided by frequency. When you raise the frequency, the wavelength becomes shorter. Shorter wavelengths can resolve finer details, which means higher spatial resolution and sharper images. So increasing frequency leads to a shorter wavelength and better resolution.

The other statements conflict with this relationship or with the impact on resolution. Frequency does affect wavelength (they’re inversely related), so saying frequency has no effect on wavelength is incorrect. Saying higher frequency yields a longer wavelength is the opposite of the actual inverse relationship. The choice that correctly states higher frequency yields shorter wavelength and higher resolution aligns with how diffraction and resolution scale with wavelength.