1. What Is The Energy-Wavelength Relationship?

The energy-wavelength relationship describes the inverse proportionality between the energy of a photon and its wavelength, as defined by Planck's equation. This fundamental principle in quantum mechanics shows that shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Planck's equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Energy of photon (Joules)
• \( h \) — Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (2.998 × 10⁸ m/s)
• \( \lambda \) — Wavelength (meters)

Explanation: The equation demonstrates that energy is inversely proportional to wavelength - as wavelength decreases, energy increases proportionally.

3. Importance Of Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, photochemistry, and optical engineering. It helps determine the behavior of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter wavelength in meters. The value must be positive and non-zero. The calculator will compute the corresponding energy in Joules using fundamental physical constants.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is energy inversely proportional to wavelength?
A: This relationship comes from Planck's quantum theory which states that energy of electromagnetic radiation is quantized in discrete packets called photons, with energy proportional to frequency (and thus inversely proportional to wavelength).

Q2: What are typical energy values for visible light?
A: Visible light wavelengths (380-750 nm) correspond to energies of approximately 1.65-3.26 eV (2.64-5.22 × 10⁻¹⁹ J).

Q3: How does this relate to the electromagnetic spectrum?
A: Different regions of the spectrum have characteristic energy ranges - gamma rays have the highest energy/shortest wavelength, while radio waves have the lowest energy/longest wavelength.

Q4: Can this equation be used for all types of electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, the energy-wavelength relationship applies to all electromagnetic radiation, from gamma rays to radio waves.

Q5: What are common units for photon energy?
A: While Joules are the SI unit, electronvolts (eV) are commonly used in atomic and particle physics (1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J).