Calculating Laser Beam Power and Wave Crests per Second at 632.8nm Wavelength

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the number of wave crests per second for a laser emitting light at a wavelength of 632.8nm with a power of 1.0mW. Participants are exploring the relationship between frequency, period, and the number of wave crests in the context of laser physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the frequency using the formula f = c / λ and questions whether the frequency represents the number of wave crests per second. Other participants suggest using the energy of a single photon to relate power and the number of photons passing through the beam.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concepts, with some providing guidance on the relationships between power, energy, and frequency. There is an ongoing exploration of how to correctly interpret the calculations and relationships involved.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the terminology and relationships between wave crests, photons, and energy, as well as some technical issues related to formatting in the posts.

stunner5000pt
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A laser emits light at a wavelength of 632.8nm. The laser beams power is 1.0mW. Find the number of wave crests per second passing through nay point in the beam.

so f = [tex]\frac{c}{\lambda} = 2.1 * 10^ -15[/tex]

(while you're at it tell me what's wrong with my code too, please)

f = c /lambda = 2.1x 10^-15 Hz

so then i know the frequency and the inverse of this is the period. The number of crests per second is the period (?) so the frequency gives the number of crests per second??
 
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Hi stunner,

Use a slash instead of a backslash: [/tex], instead of [\tex]

You know the power, which is the energy per second passing by.
You know the energy of a single photon (??wave crests??) from [itex]E=h\nu[/itex].
Hope this is the info you need and may use.
 
Galileo said:
Hi stunner,

Use a slash instead of a backslash: [/tex], instead of [\tex]

You know the power, which is the energy per second passing by.
You know the energy of a single photon (??wave crests??) from [itex]E=h\nu[/itex].
Hope this is the info you need and may use.

SO since P = E / t which is PER second and hf would give the energy per second.

So HF is the number of photons (crests) passing throiugh the beam at one second?

Am i right here? Or have i misinterpreted something
 
P (power) is energy per second (given).
hf is the energy per photon (given).
So the number of photons passing by per second is...
 

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