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Photon Energy Equation:
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The photon energy equation (E = h × f) describes the energy carried by a single photon, where h is Planck's constant and f is the photon's frequency. This fundamental relationship in quantum mechanics connects the particle and wave properties of light.
The calculator uses the photon energy equation:
Where:
Explanation: The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency. Higher frequency photons (like gamma rays) carry more energy than lower frequency photons (like radio waves).
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in quantum physics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and understanding light-matter interactions. It helps determine whether photons have sufficient energy to excite electrons or break chemical bonds.
Tips: Enter the photon frequency in Hertz (Hz). Planck's constant is pre-filled with its standard value (6.62607015 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s) but can be adjusted if needed for educational purposes.
Q1: Can I calculate energy using wavelength instead of frequency?
A: Yes! Use the equation E = (h × c)/λ where c is light speed (3 × 10⁸ m/s) and λ is wavelength.
Q2: What's the energy of visible light photons?
A: Visible light photons range from about 1.6 eV (red) to 3.1 eV (violet), or 2.56 × 10⁻¹⁹ J to 4.97 × 10⁻¹⁹ J.
Q3: Why is Planck's constant so small?
A: The small value reflects the quantum nature of energy - photons carry tiny packets of energy at human scales.
Q4: How is this related to the photoelectric effect?
A: Einstein showed that photon energy must exceed a material's work function to eject electrons, explaining the photoelectric effect.
Q5: Can photon energy be negative?
A: No, both frequency and Planck's constant are positive values, making photon energy always positive.