Wavelength And Energy Calculator

Wavelength-Energy Equation:

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

Wavelength (λ):

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

1. What is the Wavelength-Energy Equation?

The wavelength-energy equation relates the energy of a photon to its wavelength using Planck's constant and the speed of light. This fundamental relationship is crucial in quantum mechanics and electromagnetic theory.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wavelength-energy equation:

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

Where:

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

Explanation: This equation shows the inverse relationship between a photon's energy and its wavelength - higher energy photons have shorter wavelengths.

3. Importance of Wavelength Calculation

Details: Calculating wavelength from energy is essential in spectroscopy, quantum physics, photochemistry, and understanding electromagnetic radiation across different energy ranges.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter energy in joules. The value must be positive and non-zero. The calculator will compute the corresponding wavelength in meters.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical energy values for visible light?
A: Visible light photons have energies between approximately 1.65-3.26 eV (2.64-5.22×10⁻¹⁹ J), corresponding to wavelengths of 380-750 nm.

Q2: Can I use electronvolts (eV) instead of joules?
A: Yes, but you'll need to convert first (1 eV = 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ J). Many physics applications use eV as the standard energy unit.

Q3: What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?
A: Wavelength and frequency are inversely related through the equation c = λν, where ν is frequency and c is the speed of light.

Q4: How does this relate to the electromagnetic spectrum?
A: Different energy ranges correspond to different regions of the EM spectrum - from radio waves (low energy/long wavelength) to gamma rays (high energy/short wavelength).

Q5: Why is Planck's constant important in this calculation?
A: Planck's constant is a fundamental physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency (E = hν), forming the basis of quantum mechanics.