Formula we can use to calculate the number of photons

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the number of photons required to provide a specific energy, given the wavelength of the photons. The subject area is related to quantum physics and photon energy calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster inquires about a formula for calculating the number of photons based on energy and wavelength. Participants discuss the energy of a photon in relation to its wavelength and explore the relevant formula. There is an attempt to clarify the relationship between energy, wavelength, and the number of photons needed for a given energy.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the formula for photon energy, while others have shared their calculations and sought verification. The discussion appears to be progressing with attempts to clarify concepts and calculations, but no explicit consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework assignment, and there is a mention of textbook resources and online references for further information. The original poster expresses uncertainty about the proper formatting of equations.

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Is there a formula we can use to calculate the number of photons needed to provide a certian energy given only the wavelength of the photons?
 
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Yes there is. Is this homework? What's the energy of one photon, if you're given its wavelength?
 


This does look like coursework, so I'll move the thread to the Homework Help forums.

And as Redbelly says, a.a, are you familiar with the standard formula for the energy of a photon in terms of its wavelength (or frequency)? It should be in your textbook, or you could find it by searching on "photon" at wikipedia.org.
 


when i searched on wikki i only found E= hc all ever lambda
but all these are given, we have the energy, the wave length and both constants
 


nevermind.. just realized i was being stupid, so if wavelength is 656nm abd we need 10 J then this would be what we need to do, can someone please check this? thx.

E = hc/lanbda = ...= 3.0299 * 10^-19 J
then that means one photon gives 3.0299 * 10^-19 J
so to get 10 J: 10 J --> 10/3.0299 * 10^-19 = 3.3 * 10^19 photons
ANS: 3.3*10^19 photons needed to produce 10 J

sorry I am not familiar with how you post eqn the proper way
 


Looks good!

There are 2 ways to write equations.

You can use LaTex. Click on this equation, to see what I typed to generate it:

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

More info on LaTex is at https://www.physicsforums.com/misc/howtolatex.pdf . Also, you can click on the Σ symbol in "advanced edit" mode to get a menu of Latex symbols.

If you don't need the full features of Latex, you can also copy-and-paste a lot of math symbols from here:
https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?u=122961
For example:
E = hc/λ
 
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