Planck's Equation:
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Planck's equation describes the relationship between the energy of a photon and its frequency. It is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics that shows energy is quantized rather than continuous.
The calculator uses Planck's equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency, with Planck's constant as the proportionality factor.
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including quantum physics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and understanding light-matter interactions.
Tips: Enter frequency in hertz (Hz) and wavelength in meters (m). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
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 are frequency and wavelength related?
A: Frequency and wavelength are inversely related through the equation c = fλ, where c is the speed of light (3×10⁸ m/s).
Q3: What is the typical energy range of photons?
A: Photon energies range from about 10⁻²⁵ J for radio waves to 10⁻¹⁵ J for gamma rays, covering many orders of magnitude.
Q4: Can I calculate energy from wavelength only?
A: Yes, using the relationship E = hc/λ, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength.
Q5: Why is energy quantized?
A: Energy is quantized because it can only be transferred in discrete amounts called quanta, which was a revolutionary concept introduced by Max Planck.