What is photon energy? Explain in detail including example and provide summary
Photon energy refers to the amount of energy carried by a single photon, which is a quantum packet of electromagnetic radiation. This energy is directly proportional to the frequency of the radiation, meaning that higher frequency radiation (such as gamma rays) carries more energy per photon, while lower frequency radiation (such as radio waves) carries less energy per photon.
The formula for calculating photon energy is given by E = hf, where E is the energy, h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10^-34 Joule-seconds), and f is the frequency of the radiation in Hertz (cycles per second). This formula shows that the energy of a photon is directly proportional to the frequency of the radiation.
For example, consider a photon of green light with a frequency of approximately 5.3 x 10^14 Hz. Using the formula above, we can calculate its energy as:
E = (6.626 x 10^-34 J-s) x (5.3 x 10^14 Hz) = 3.52 x 10^-19 Joules
This means that each photon of green light carries about 3.52 x 10^-19 Joules of energy.
In summary, photon energy is the amount of energy carried by a single photon of electromagnetic radiation. It is directly proportional to the frequency of the radiation and can be calculated using the formula E = hf. Higher frequency radiation carries more energy per photon, while lower frequency radiation carries less energy per photon.
Photon energy refers to the energy carried by a single photon, which is the smallest unit of light or electromagnetic radiation. Light consists of a stream of photons, and each photon carries a specific amount of energy.
The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency (ν) or inversely proportional to its wavelength (λ), according to the equation E = hν = hc/λ. Here, E represents the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant (approximately 6.626 x 10^-34 joule-seconds), c is the speed of light (approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second), and ν and λ represent the frequency and wavelength of the light, respectively.
To understand this concept, let's consider an example: visible light. Visible light consists of a spectrum of colors ranging from red to violet. Each color has a different wavelength and, therefore, a different energy. Red light has a longer wavelength and lower energy compared to violet light, which has a shorter wavelength and higher energy.
When an atom or molecule absorbs a photon, the energy of the photon can cause an electron to jump to a higher energy level or be released from the atom. This energy transfer is the basis of several important processes, such as photosynthesis, vision, and the functioning of solar cells.
In summary, photon energy refers to the energy carried by an individual photon. It is directly related to the frequency or inversely related to the wavelength of the light. Different colors of light have different photon energies, with shorter wavelengths corresponding to higher energies. The energy of photons plays a crucial role in various natural and technological processes.