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Planck-Einstein Relation:
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The Planck-Einstein relation describes the energy of a photon in terms of its frequency. It states that the energy (E) of a photon is equal to Planck's constant (h) multiplied by the frequency (f) of the photon.
The calculator uses the Planck-Einstein relation:
Where:
Explanation: This fundamental equation in quantum mechanics relates the particle nature of light (photon energy) to its wave nature (frequency).
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including quantum physics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and optical engineering. It helps determine the behavior of light in different materials and its interaction with matter.
Tips: Enter the frequency of the photon in Hertz (Hz). The frequency must be a positive value. The calculator will compute the energy in Joules using Planck's constant.
Q1: What is Planck's constant?
A: Planck's constant (h) is a fundamental physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency. Its value is approximately 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s.
Q2: How is frequency related to wavelength?
A: Frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) are related by the equation c = f × λ, where c is the speed of light (approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s).
Q3: What are typical energy values for photons?
A: Photon energies vary widely. Visible light photons have energies around 10⁻¹⁹ J, while gamma ray photons can have energies as high as 10⁻¹³ J.
Q4: Can I calculate energy from wavelength instead?
A: Yes, using the combined formula E = (h × c)/λ, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength.
Q5: Why is the energy value so small?
A: Individual photons carry extremely small amounts of energy, which is why we typically measure them in electronvolts (eV) rather than Joules in many applications.