- #1
Fluxthroughme
- 71
- 0
Part a) is correct, but the book gives me an answer of 2.3*10^{23} for part b. Is the book wrong or have I missed a factor of 1000 somewhere?
Is the Book's Photon Calculation Off by a Factor of 1000?
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The discussion centers on a potential error in a book's photon calculation, where the answer for part b is questioned due to a discrepancy of a factor of 1000 compared to WolframAlpha's result. Participants conclude that the book likely contains an incorrect answer. The conversation also addresses confusion around the term "frequency," clarifying that it refers to an individual photon rather than a collective emission rate. It is noted that while increasing current can raise the number of emitted photons, it does not affect the frequency of individual photons. Overall, the distinction between photon frequency and quantity is emphasized as a key point of understanding.
Part a) is correct, but the book gives me an answer of 2.3*10^{23} for part b. Is the book wrong or have I missed a factor of 1000 somewhere?
- #2
mfb
Mentor
- 37,393
- 14,223
WolframAlpha gives 2.27*1020 as well.
- #3
Fluxthroughme
- 71
- 0
mfb said:
I'm going to have to conclude the book has the wrong answer, then. Thanks :)
- #4
Naty1
- 5,605
- 40
goo job...
What did you conclude regarding question [c]?
What did you conclude regarding question [c]?
- #5
Fluxthroughme
- 71
- 0
Naty1 said:
The answer is no, they are not the same. I am not 100% sure why it is even asking this. As far as I can venture a guess, I would say that the word 'frequency' would make some people think of the number of photons emitted per second, and would thus get it confused. However, the frequency of a photon is of A photon, not a bunch of them. Thus, some might think it meant frequency as it "The frequency with which photons are emitted". This clearly isn't the case, though I can understand there is room for confusion.
Would this be correct? As I say, I'm not 100% sure why this is asked; my answer makes sense to me, but it doesn't seem the kind of thing that needs explaining.
- #6
Naty1
- 5,605
- 40
That's basically how I would respond...I think the question just aims at verbalizing the math perspectives.
You can easily change the the number of photons emitted, the power radiated,
by increasing the current. Depending on how you look at it, that would increase
the number of photons but not the frequency...at least as posed in this problem.
In the real world, a hotter bulb likely generates a higher frequency wavelength
AND more photons, but they ARE different concepts as you explain.
You can easily change the the number of photons emitted, the power radiated,
by increasing the current. Depending on how you look at it, that would increase
the number of photons but not the frequency...at least as posed in this problem.
In the real world, a hotter bulb likely generates a higher frequency wavelength
AND more photons, but they ARE different concepts as you explain.