1. What is the Photon Energy Equation?

The photon energy equation E = h × f calculates the energy of an emitted photon, where E is energy in joules, h is Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s), and f is the frequency of the photon in hertz (Hz). This fundamental equation in quantum mechanics describes the energy of electromagnetic radiation.

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)
• \( f \) — Frequency of the photon (Hz)

Explanation: The equation shows that the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency. Higher frequency photons (such as gamma rays) carry more energy than lower frequency photons (such as radio waves).

3. Importance of Photon Energy Calculation

Details: Calculating photon energy is essential in various fields including quantum physics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and telecommunications. It helps determine the energy levels involved in atomic transitions, chemical reactions, and the behavior of light in different materials.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency of the photon in hertz (Hz). The frequency must be a positive value. The calculator will automatically use Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s) to compute the energy in joules.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Planck's constant?
A: Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s) is a fundamental physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency. It's named after Max Planck, who introduced it in 1900.

Q2: How is this equation related to the photoelectric effect?
A: The equation E = h × f is fundamental to understanding the photoelectric effect, where photons with sufficient energy can eject electrons from a material surface.

Q3: Can I calculate energy for different units of frequency?
A: The calculator requires frequency in hertz (Hz). If you have frequency in other units (kHz, MHz, GHz), convert to Hz first (1 kHz = 1000 Hz, 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz, etc.).

Q4: What's the relationship between energy and wavelength?
A: Since frequency and wavelength are related by c = λ × f (where c is speed of light), the energy can also be expressed as E = h × c / λ.

Q5: Why are the energy values so small?
A: Individual photons carry extremely small amounts of energy due to the very small value of Planck's constant. This is why we typically deal with large numbers of photons in practical applications.