SUMMARY
The discussion focuses on calculating the energy and wavelength of a photon emitted when an atom transitions from an excited state to the ground state, specifically with an energy level of 1.8 eV. The energy of the photon is determined using the formula E = hf, where E is the energy in joules, h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10^-34 J·s), and f is the frequency. To convert the energy from electronvolts to joules, the conversion factor of 1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J is applied, allowing for the calculation of the wavelength using the relationship λ = c/f, where c is the speed of light (3 x 10^8 m/s).
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of photon energy calculations using E = hf
- Knowledge of energy conversion between electronvolts and joules
- Familiarity with the speed of light constant (c = 3 x 10^8 m/s)
- Basic algebra for manipulating formulas and solving for wavelength
NEXT STEPS
- Learn how to apply the formula E = hf in various contexts
- Study the relationship between energy, frequency, and wavelength in electromagnetic radiation
- Explore the concept of energy levels in atoms and how they relate to photon emission
- Investigate the implications of photon energy in quantum mechanics and spectroscopy
USEFUL FOR
Students preparing for physics exams, educators teaching quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the principles of photon energy and wavelength calculations.