Energy Calculation and Wavelength Explanation
What is the relationship between energy and wavelength in physics?
In physics, how can we calculate the energy of one photon based on the wavelength?
Energy is the quantitative attribute that is conveyed to a body or a physical system and is perceptible as heat and light as well as in the performance of work. Energy is a preserved resource; according to the rule of conservation of energy, energy can only be transformed from one form to another and cannot be created or destroyed. The joule is the SI's (International System of Units) unit of measurement for energy (J).
The distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, troughs, or zero crossings, is known as the wavelength of a periodic wave; it is the length over which the wave's shape repeats. It is a property of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns. The inverse of the wavelength is known as the spatial frequency. The Greek letter lambda (λ) is frequently used to represent wavelength.
Energy and wavelength are interconnected in physics. The energy of a photon is calculated based on its wavelength using the equation E = hc / λ, where E represents energy, h is the Planck constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength of the photon. This relationship shows that the energy of a photon is inversely proportional to its wavelength, meaning as the wavelength increases, the energy decreases, and vice versa.
When the major line emission of terbium occurs at a wavelength of 547 nm, the energy of one photon of light at that wavelength can be calculated using the formula E = hc / λ. By substituting the values of Planck constant (h), speed of light (c), and wavelength (547 nm) into the equation, we can determine that the energy of one photon is 3.634 joules (J).
Understanding the relationship between energy and wavelength in physics is crucial as it helps scientists and researchers analyze the behavior of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. By studying this correlation, we can gain insights into the properties of photons, wave phenomena, and the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.