1. What is the Photon Energy Equation?

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the photon energy equation:

Where:

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

Explanation: The equation shows that photon energy is inversely proportional to its wavelength - shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons.

3. Importance of Photon Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in spectroscopy, quantum physics, photochemistry, and understanding light-matter interactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters. For nanometer values, divide by 10⁹ before entering (1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m). Wavelength must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Planck's constant?
A: Planck's constant (h) is a fundamental constant of nature that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s).

Q2: How does wavelength relate to photon energy?
A: They have an inverse relationship - shorter wavelengths mean higher energy photons (e.g., gamma rays have more energy than radio waves).

Q3: What are typical photon energy values?
A: Visible light photons have energies around 10⁻¹⁹ J (or 1-3 eV). X-rays are around 10⁻¹⁵ J (keV range), and radio waves around 10⁻²⁴ J.

Q4: Can this calculate energy for multiple photons?
A: No, this gives energy per single photon. For multiple photons, multiply by the number of photons.

Q5: What if I know frequency instead of wavelength?
A: Use E = h × ν where ν is frequency. The calculator can be modified to accept frequency input.