# I'm doing something wrong

[SOLVED] I'm doing something wrong...

1. A red laser with a wavelength of 650 nm and a blue laser with a wavelength of 450 nn emit laser beams with the same light power. How do their rates of photon emission compare? Answer this by computing R$$_{red}$$ / R$$_{blue}$$

2. P = Rhf = dNhf / dt = dE$$_{light}$$ / dt
R = dN / dt
E$$_{light}$$ = Nhf, where N is the number of photons
f = c / $$\lambda$$
h = 6.624E-32 Js

3. I have the f$$_{red}$$ = 4.62 x 10$$^{14}$$ s
and f$$_{blue}$$ = 6.67 x 10$$^{14}$$ s , it says their Powers are the same, so I go ahead and went and equaled:

P$$_{red}$$ to P$$_{blue}$$, which is:

P$$_{red}$$h$$_{red}$$f$$_{red}$$ = P$$_{blue}$$h$$_{blue}$$f$$_{blue}$$

but I am tired and can't see the relevance, because when I multiplied times h [in Js] and then I divide like explained, I get .6925, and the ANSWER is 1.44.

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berkeman
Mentor
Since red photons carry less energy per photon, there will need to be more of them. You just got your answer upside-down.

Just use your equation for E = Nhf, and be sure to take the ratio in the correct direction.

Chi Meson
Homework Helper
1. A red laser with a wavelength of 650 nm and a blue laser with a wavelength of 450 nn emit laser beams with the same light power. How do their rates of photon emission compare? Answer this by computing R$$_{red}$$ / R$$_{blue}$$

2. P = Rhf = dNhf / dt = dE$$_{light}$$ / dt
R = dN / dt
E$$_{light}$$ = Nhf, where N is the number of photons
f = c / $$\lambda$$
h = 6.624E-32 Js

3. I have the f$$_{red}$$ = 4.62 x 10$$^{14}$$ s
and f$$_{blue}$$ = 6.67 x 10$$^{14}$$ s , it says their Powers are the same, so I go ahead and went and equaled:

P$$_{red}$$ to P$$_{blue}$$, which is:

P$$_{red}$$h$$_{red}$$f$$_{red}$$ = P$$_{blue}$$h$$_{blue}$$f$$_{blue}$$

but I am tired and can't see the relevance, because when I multiplied times h [in Js] and then I divide like explained, I get .6925, and the ANSWER is 1.44.

You got confused because you plugged in your number way too soon. Consider this:

Only the wavelengths are important. Obviously "R" here is used as "N," th number of photons per second? Well, P=P, you got that, and P=(Rhf)/t and f =c/ lamda.

Just substitute, see what cancel out, and use what you are left with.

I double checked the math, looks good.

Ok....that was...really weird, I guess I somehow reversed wavelengths? I simply did the reciprocal and it worked, thanks all!