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PreposterousUniverse
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The energy of an electromagnetic wave does not depend on the frequency of the wave, only on the amplitude. Then why is light with higher frequency more energetic than light with lower frequency?
I think you are confusing this with photons vs. electromagnetic waves.PreposterousUniverse said:Then why is light with higher frequency more energetic than light with lower frequency?
It isn't. A single photon has an energy that depends on frequency, yes. But by the time you've got enough photons that you can talk about light as a classical electromagnetic wave you have two variables: frequency and number of photons. You can vary the energy being carried at a given frequency by varying the number of photons. That's why classical electromagnetism has no defined relationship between energy carried and frequency.PreposterousUniverse said:Then why is light with higher frequency more energetic than light with lower frequency?
They aren't if you are talking about electromagnetic waves. Photons of higher frequency do have higher energy, but that's not the same thing as "all gamma radiation carries more energy than all X ray radiation", which would be wrong.PreposterousUniverse said:Then why are infrared light, visible light and microwaves less energetic than gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet light?
PreposterousUniverse said:Then why are infrared light, visible light and microwaves less energetic than gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet light?
How do you measure energy in a wave? How can I have just one single radio wave?gleem said:Comparing energy and power?
An electromagnetic wave is a type of energy that is produced by the movement of electrically charged particles. It consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that travel through space at the speed of light.
The energy of an electromagnetic wave is measured by its frequency and wavelength. The higher the frequency and shorter the wavelength, the more energy the wave carries.
The energy of an electromagnetic wave is directly proportional to its frequency. This means that as the frequency increases, the energy of the wave also increases.
The energy of an electromagnetic wave determines its behavior and properties. Higher energy waves, such as gamma rays and x-rays, have shorter wavelengths and are more likely to penetrate through materials, while lower energy waves, such as radio waves, have longer wavelengths and are more easily absorbed by objects.
The energy of electromagnetic waves is used in a variety of ways in our daily lives. Some common applications include radio and television broadcasting, cell phones, microwave ovens, and medical imaging technologies such as X-rays and MRI scans.