1. What is Planck's Equation?

Planck's equation relates the energy of a photon to its wavelength. It's a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics that describes the particle-like properties of light.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Planck's 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 light (meters)

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

3. Importance of Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in fields like spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, photochemistry, and optical engineering. It helps determine light-matter interactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wavelength in meters (e.g., 500 nm = 5e-7 m). The wavelength must be greater than zero. The result will be in Joules.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical photon energies?
A: Visible light photons have energies around 3-4 × 10⁻¹⁹ J (2-3 eV). X-rays are around 10⁻¹⁵ J (keV), while radio waves are around 10⁻²⁴ J (μeV).

Q2: How can I convert to electronvolts (eV)?
A: Divide the energy in Joules by 1.60218 × 10⁻¹⁹ to get the energy in eV.

Q3: Does this work for all electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, the equation applies to all wavelengths of EM radiation, from gamma rays to radio waves.

Q4: Why is the energy inversely proportional to wavelength?
A: Because higher frequency (shorter wavelength) light has more wave oscillations per second, carrying more energy per photon.

Q5: How precise is this calculation?
A: It's theoretically exact for single photons, using the most accurate values of fundamental constants.