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 (energy) and wave nature (frequency) of light.
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and optical technologies. It helps determine whether a photon has sufficient energy to excite electrons or cause chemical reactions.
Tips: Enter the frequency in Hertz (Hz). The value must be positive and greater than zero. The calculator will compute the energy in Joules using Planck's constant.
Q1: What is Planck's constant?
A: Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s) is a fundamental physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency.
Q2: Can I calculate energy from wavelength instead?
A: Yes, using the relation E = h × c / λ, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength.
Q3: What are typical energy values for photons?
A: Photon energies range from about 10⁻²⁵ J for radio waves to 10⁻¹⁵ J for gamma rays.
Q4: Why is photon energy important in chemistry?
A: It determines whether light can initiate photochemical reactions, excite electrons, or break chemical bonds.
Q5: How precise is this calculation?
A: The calculation is theoretically exact, though practical measurements of frequency may have experimental uncertainties.