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

[yvonnars]

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?

 

[member 553083]

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.