SUMMARY
An LED with a power output of 10 mW emits approximately 2.1E16 photons per second at a wavelength of 420 nm. The energy of a single photon is calculated using the equation E=hc/λ, where h is Planck's constant (6.626068 × 10-34 m2kg/s) and c is the speed of light (3.0 x 108 m/s). The correct calculation involves converting the wavelength from nanometers to meters, resulting in a photon energy of 4.7328E-19 J. The final calculation confirms that the number of emitted photons is accurately determined as 2.1E16.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of photon energy calculations using E=hc/λ
- Knowledge of unit conversions, specifically from nanometers to meters
- Familiarity with scientific notation and exponent rules
- Basic principles of LED operation and light emission
NEXT STEPS
- Study the derivation of the photon energy formula E=hc/λ
- Learn about the properties of LEDs and their spectral output
- Explore advanced topics in quantum mechanics related to light emission
- Investigate the impact of wavelength on photon energy and emission rates
USEFUL FOR
Students in physics or engineering, educators teaching optics, and anyone interested in the quantitative analysis of light emission from LEDs.