SUMMARY
A 0.39 kg mass falling from a height of 2.9 m can produce a specific number of photons if its gravitational potential energy is fully converted into visible light. The energy of the falling mass is calculated using the formula E=mgh, yielding 11.43 J. The energy of a single photon at a wavelength of 5.5 × 10−7 m is determined using E=hc/λ, resulting in approximately 3.618 × 10−10 J. Dividing the total energy by the energy per photon reveals that approximately 3.16 × 1010 photons are produced.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of gravitational potential energy (E=mgh)
- Knowledge of Planck’s constant (6.63 × 10−34 J·s)
- Familiarity with the speed of light (3 × 108 m/s)
- Basic principles of photon energy calculation (E=hc/λ)
NEXT STEPS
- Study the derivation of gravitational potential energy formulas
- Learn about the relationship between energy and wavelength in photons
- Explore applications of Planck’s constant in quantum mechanics
- Investigate the implications of energy conversion in physical systems
USEFUL FOR
Students in physics, educators teaching energy concepts, and anyone interested in the relationship between mass, energy, and light production.