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Planck's Energy Formula:
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Planck's energy formula relates the energy of a photon to its wavelength. This fundamental equation in quantum mechanics describes the energy carried by electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, and X-rays.
The calculator uses Planck's energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that energy is inversely proportional to wavelength - shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.
Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, photochemistry, and telecommunications. It helps determine the energy levels of atomic transitions and the behavior of light-matter interactions.
Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters. For common light wavelengths, remember that visible light ranges from approximately 380-750 nanometers (3.8 × 10⁻⁷ to 7.5 × 10⁻⁷ meters).
Q1: What are typical energy values for visible light?
A: Visible light photons have energies ranging from approximately 1.65 to 3.26 electronvolts (2.64 × 10⁻¹⁹ to 5.23 × 10⁻¹⁹ Joules).
Q2: How does this relate to frequency?
A: Energy can also be calculated as E = h·f, where f is frequency. Since c = λ·f, the two formulas are equivalent.
Q3: Why is the energy so small in Joules?
A: Individual photons carry very small amounts of energy. In many applications, energy is measured in electronvolts (1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J) for convenience.
Q4: Can this formula be used for all electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, Planck's formula applies to all electromagnetic radiation from radio waves to gamma rays.
Q5: What are practical applications of this calculation?
A: This calculation is used in designing lasers, analyzing spectral data, understanding photosynthesis, and developing optical communication systems.