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Photon Energy Formula:
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Photon energy calculation determines the energy carried by a single photon of electromagnetic radiation based on its wavelength, using Planck's equation. This fundamental physics concept is essential in quantum mechanics and photonics.
The calculator uses the photon energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that photon energy is inversely proportional to wavelength - shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.
Details: Calculating photon energy is crucial for understanding quantum phenomena, designing optical systems, spectroscopy applications, and various technologies including lasers, solar cells, and medical imaging devices.
Tips: Enter wavelength in meters. For nanometer inputs, divide by 10⁹ first. Wavelength must be greater than zero. The result shows the energy of a single photon in Joules.
Q1: Why is photon energy important in quantum mechanics?
A: Photon energy determines the quantum interactions between light and matter, including electron transitions and photoelectric effects.
Q2: How does wavelength affect photon energy?
A: Energy increases as wavelength decreases. Violet light photons have more energy than red light photons.
Q3: What are typical photon energy values?
A: Visible light photons range from about 3.1×10⁻¹⁹ J (red) to 4.1×10⁻¹⁹ J (violet). X-ray photons have much higher energies around 10⁻¹⁵ J.
Q4: Can this calculator handle different units?
A: The calculator requires wavelength input in meters. Convert from other units (nm, μm, etc.) before calculation.
Q5: How is this related to the photoelectric effect?
A: The photoelectric effect demonstrates that light energy is quantized into photons, with each photon's energy given by E = hc/λ.