Calculate Energy Of A Photon Of Wavelength 500 Nm

Photon Energy Equation:

\[ E = \frac{h c}{\lambda} \]

Photon Energy (E):

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1. What is Photon Energy Calculation?

The photon energy calculation determines the energy carried by a single photon of electromagnetic radiation using Planck's equation. This fundamental physics concept is essential in quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and photonics applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the photon energy equation:

\[ E = \frac{h c}{\lambda} \]

Where:

\( E \) — Photon energy (joules)
\( h \) — Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J s)
\( c \) — Speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s)
\( \lambda \) — Wavelength (meters)

Explanation: The equation shows that photon energy is inversely proportional to wavelength - shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.

3. Importance of Photon Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating photon energy is crucial for understanding light-matter interactions, designing optical systems, analyzing spectral data, and applications in photography, astronomy, and medical imaging.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter wavelength in nanometers (nm). The calculator automatically converts to meters and computes the energy using fundamental physical constants.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is photon energy important?
A: Photon energy determines how light interacts with matter, affecting everything from photosynthesis to solar cell efficiency and vision.

Q2: What's the relationship between wavelength and energy?
A: Energy is inversely proportional to wavelength - shorter wavelengths have higher energy photons.

Q3: How does this relate to color?
A: Different colors correspond to different wavelengths, with violet (short wavelength) having higher energy than red (long wavelength).

Q4: Can I calculate energy for other electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, the same equation works for all electromagnetic radiation including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Q5: What are typical energy values for visible light?
A: Visible light photons range from approximately 1.6-3.3 eV (2.6-5.3 × 10⁻¹⁹ J), with 500 nm green light around 2.48 eV (3.98 × 10⁻¹⁹ J).