Need help from an expert?
The world’s top online tutoring provider trusted by students, parents, and schools globally.
The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency.
When light travels through space, it behaves as both a wave and a particle. The particle-like nature of light is described by photons, which have both energy and momentum. The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency, according to the equation E = hf, where E is the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the photon.
This relationship between energy and frequency can be seen in the electromagnetic spectrum, which shows the different types of electromagnetic radiation arranged in order of increasing frequency and energy. At the low end of the spectrum are radio waves, which have low frequency and low energy. At the high end of the spectrum are gamma rays, which have high frequency and high energy.
The energy of a photon is also related to its wavelength, which is the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of a wave. The relationship between energy and wavelength is given by the equation E = hc/λ, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength of the photon. This equation shows that photons with shorter wavelengths (higher frequency) have more energy than photons with longer wavelengths (lower frequency).
In summary, the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. This relationship is described by the equations E = hf and E = hc/λ, and can be seen in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Study and Practice for Free
Trusted by 100,000+ Students Worldwide
Achieve Top Grades in your Exams with our Free Resources.
Practice Questions, Study Notes, and Past Exam Papers for all Subjects!
The world’s top online tutoring provider trusted by students, parents, and schools globally.