Need Help Remembering An Equation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hertz
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The equation to convert frequency into energy is E = hf, where E represents energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is frequency. This equation specifically applies to electromagnetic waves, such as photons. While all matter has an associated wavelength, it is incorrect to equate rest mass energy directly with the energy of electromagnetic waves. For massive particles, energy includes both rest mass and momentum, described by the equation E^2 = m^2 c^4 + p^2 c^2. Understanding these concepts requires a grasp of wave-particle duality and the relationship between energy, mass, and momentum.
Hertz
Messages
180
Reaction score
8
Does anyone happen to know the equation to convert frequency into energy?
I think it's something like: E = hf, but I'm not sure.

Any help is appreciated :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hertz said:
E = hf

Yup. I assume you mean for EM waves?
 
Yup, is that the right equation?
 
Yes.
 
So this means that mc^2 = hf right?
So does this mean that everything with mass is actually an EM wave? Sorry I don't know a whole lot, I'm still in 11th grade :\
 
No, that's not what it means, that's why I asked if you meant for EM waves.
While yes, all matter does have an associated wavelength, but no, you can't compare the rest mass energy to the energy for an EM wave.

You should read about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave-particle_duality" if you are curious.

For photons, E=h f where the momentum of a photon is given by,
p = {E \over c}

Generalized to massive particles, we get
\lambda = {h \over p}

Where \lambda is the associated wavelength.

In general, energy is not just the rest mass energy and also includes a momentum term, so for our massive particles we have: E^2 = m^2 c^4 + p^2 c^2
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
Back
Top