Photon Energy Calculator

Calculate the energy of a photon based on its wavelength or frequency using the Planck-Einstein relation.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Photon Energy

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Joules (J)

Calculation Formula

E = hf = hc/λ

Where:
E = Energy of the photon
h = Planck's constant (6.626 × 10-34 J·s)
f = Frequency of the photon
c = Speed of light in vacuum (2.998 × 108 m/s)
λ = Wavelength of the photon

Photon Energy Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Photon Energy Calculator and understand its working principles

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter either the wavelength (λ) in meters or the frequency (f) in Hertz (Hz) of the photon. You can only enter one value at a time.
  2. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the photon energy.
  3. The result will be displayed in Joules (J). For very small values, scientific notation (e.g., 1.234 × 10-19) will be used.
  4. Use the "Reset" button to clear all input fields and start over.

Understanding Photon Energy

The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. This relationship is described by the Planck-Einstein equation:

E = hf = hc/λ

This means that higher frequency photons (like gamma rays) have more energy than lower frequency photons (like radio waves).

Practical Applications

This calculator is useful in various fields including:

  • Physics education and research
  • Optics and photonics engineering
  • Spectroscopy analysis
  • Understanding electromagnetic spectrum

Example

For visible light with a wavelength of 500 nm (nanometers), the energy can be calculated as follows:

  1. Convert wavelength to meters: 500 nm = 500 × 10-9 m
  2. Use the formula E = hc/λ
  3. With h = 6.626 × 10-34 J·s and c = 2.998 × 108 m/s
  4. Result: E ≈ 3.98 × 10-19 J