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Planck's Energy Equation:
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Planck's energy equation, E = h × f, describes the energy of a photon where E is energy, h is Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s), and f is the frequency of the electromagnetic wave. This fundamental equation in quantum mechanics relates the energy of a photon to its frequency.
The calculator uses Planck's energy equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency. Higher frequency photons (like gamma rays) have more energy than lower frequency photons (like radio waves).
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and understanding electromagnetic radiation interactions with matter. It's fundamental to technologies like lasers, solar cells, and medical imaging.
Tips: Enter the frequency in hertz (Hz). The frequency must be a positive value. Common frequencies range from radio waves (kHz-MHz) to visible light (hundreds of THz) to gamma rays (EHz and above).
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. It's a cornerstone of quantum mechanics.
Q2: Can I calculate energy for multiple photons?
A: This equation calculates the energy of a single photon. For multiple photons, multiply the result by the number of photons.
Q3: How does wavelength relate to this equation?
A: Since frequency (f) = speed of light (c) / wavelength (λ), you can also express the equation as E = h × c / λ.
Q4: What are typical energy values for different types of light?
A: Radio waves have energies around 10⁻⁹ eV, visible light around 1-3 eV, X-rays around keV, and gamma rays MeV and higher.
Q5: Why is the energy value so small?
A: Planck's constant is extremely small (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴), so photon energies are tiny when measured in joules. Scientists often use electronvolts (eV) for convenience in atomic and particle physics.