Energy of Photons & Mechanical/Light Waves: Amplitude & Frequency

In summary, the energy of a photon and the energy of mechanical and light waves differ in their dependence on amplitude and frequency, with the energy of a photon being solely dependent on frequency and the energy of mechanical and light waves being dependent on both frequency and amplitude.
  • #1
yvonnars
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Homework Statement



Photons have energy E = h f (Planck constant h = 6.626 x 10-34 Joules*sec).
The energy of mechanical waves and laser light (or light wave) depend on their amplitude and frequency
Explain in detail how
the energy of a photon and the energy of mechanical and light waves compare insofar as their
dependence on amplitude and frequency.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I am not sure how to find the energy of both mechanical and light waves. Is there an equation like the one for photons?
 
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  • #2
The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency, meaning that the higher the frequency, the more energy it contains. The amplitude of a photon has no effect on the energy it contains. In contrast, the energy of mechanical and light waves depend on both the frequency and the amplitude. The higher the frequency, the more energy the wave contains. Additionally, the greater the amplitude, the more energy the wave contains. Therefore, the energy of a photon and the energy of mechanical and light waves differ in their dependence on amplitude and frequency: the energy of a photon is solely dependent on its frequency while the energy of mechanical and light waves are dependent on both frequency and amplitude.
 

What is the difference between the energy of photons and mechanical/light waves?

The energy of photons refers to the amount of energy carried by individual packets of light, while mechanical/light waves refer to the transfer of energy through a medium, such as sound waves or ocean waves. Photons have a specific energy determined by their frequency, while the energy of mechanical/light waves depends on their amplitude and frequency.

How does the amplitude of a wave affect its energy?

The amplitude of a wave refers to its maximum displacement from the equilibrium position. In mechanical/light waves, the amplitude directly affects the energy of the wave - the greater the amplitude, the more energy the wave carries. However, in the case of photons, the amplitude does not affect the energy since photons do not have a physical amplitude.

What is the relationship between frequency and energy?

The frequency of a wave refers to the number of complete cycles it makes in one second. In mechanical/light waves, the higher the frequency, the more energy the wave carries. This is because waves with higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, which means they have a higher energy density. In photons, the energy is directly proportional to the frequency - the higher the frequency, the higher the energy of the photon.

How does the energy of photons and mechanical/light waves relate to the electromagnetic spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is a range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, including photons. The energy of a photon is directly related to its frequency, and as the frequency increases, the energy of the photon increases. This means that as you move along the electromagnetic spectrum towards higher frequencies, the energy of the photons also increases.

Can energy be transferred between photons and mechanical/light waves?

Yes, energy can be transferred between photons and mechanical/light waves. When a photon is absorbed by a material, its energy is transferred to the material, causing it to vibrate and generate mechanical/light waves. On the other hand, when a material vibrates, it can emit photons, transferring its mechanical energy into energy carried by photons.

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