A particular photon has a wavelength of 450 nm, and a second one has a wavelength of 580 nm. Which of these statements about the energies of these two photons is true?
A) All photons have the same energy, regardless of wavelength.
B) The 450-nm photon has the higher energy.
C) The 580-nm photon has the higher energy.
D) The photon from the higher-intensity light source has the higher energy (regardless of wavelength).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy of a photon is inversely proportional to its wavelength, according to the equation E = hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength. Therefore, the shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy. Since 450 nm is shorter than 580 nm, the 450-nm photon has the higher energy.

A Particular Photon Has a Wavelength of 450 Nm, and a Second