How is the energy of light related to its wavelength?

How is the energy of light related to its wavelength?

• A. It is directly proportional
• B. It is inversely proportional
• C. It is irrelevant
• D. It is constant

Answer: (B)

The energy of light is inversely proportional to its wavelength, which means that as the wavelength increases, the energy decreases, and conversely, as the wavelength decreases, the energy increases. This relationship is described by the equation: \[ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} \] In this equation, \( E \) represents the energy of a photon, \( h \) is Planck's constant, \( c \) is the speed of light, and \( \lambda \) is the wavelength. From the equation, you can see that energy is inversely related to wavelength; therefore, shorter wavelengths (like ultraviolet light) correspond to higher energy photons, while longer wavelengths (like infrared light) correspond to lower energy photons. Understanding this relationship is crucial in many areas of optics and physics, as it helps explain phenomena such as the color of light and its interaction with matter. For instance, higher-energy photons can cause more significant effects such as ionization, while lower-energy photons do not have enough energy to cause the same effects.

The energy of light is inversely proportional to its wavelength, which means that as the wavelength increases, the energy decreases, and conversely, as the wavelength decreases, the energy increases. This relationship is described by the equation:

[ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} ]

In this equation, ( E ) represents the energy of a photon, ( h ) is Planck's constant, ( c ) is the speed of light, and ( \lambda ) is the wavelength. From the equation, you can see that energy is inversely related to wavelength; therefore, shorter wavelengths (like ultraviolet light) correspond to higher energy photons, while longer wavelengths (like infrared light) correspond to lower energy photons.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in many areas of optics and physics, as it helps explain phenomena such as the color of light and its interaction with matter. For instance, higher-energy photons can cause more significant effects such as ionization, while lower-energy photons do not have enough energy to cause the same effects.