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. This fundamental equation in quantum mechanics helps understand the particle nature of light.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the photon energy equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Photon energy (Joules)
• \( h \) — Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s)
• \( \lambda \) — Wavelength (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 fields like quantum physics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and optical engineering. It helps determine if a photon has enough energy to excite electrons or break chemical bonds.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters (e.g., 500 nm = 5e-7 m). The calculator will output the photon energy in Joules. For practical applications, you may need to convert to electronvolts (1 eV = 1.60218e-19 J).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relationship between wavelength and energy?
A: Energy and wavelength are inversely proportional - as wavelength decreases, energy increases.

Q2: How do I convert between nanometers and meters?
A: 1 nanometer = 1e-9 meters. So 550 nm = 550 × 10⁻⁹ m = 5.5 × 10⁻⁷ m.

Q3: What is a typical photon energy range for visible light?
A: Visible light (400-700 nm) corresponds to about 3.1-1.8 eV (5.0-2.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ J).

Q4: Why is the energy so small in Joules?
A: Individual photons carry very small amounts of energy. A 100W light bulb emits about 3 × 10²⁰ photons per second!

Q5: Can this equation be used for all electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, it applies to all photons across the EM spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays.