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Does electromagnetic energy with high frequency have high energy?

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Final answer:

Electromagnetic energy with high frequency does have high energy, as described by the equation E = hf, where the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency. High-frequency X-rays have higher energy than visible light, with violet light being the highest within the visible spectrum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, electromagnetic energy with high frequency does indeed have high energy. According to the equation E = hf, where E represents the energy of a photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the electromagnetic (EM) radiation, we can see a direct relationship between the frequency of EM waves and their energy. This equation shows that as the frequency f increases, so does the energy E of the photon. For instance, X-rays have a much higher frequency compared to visible light, and accordingly, they carry more energy, which explains their higher penetrating power. This phenomenon is applicable to all forms of EM radiation, from low-energy radio waves, which have a low frequency, to high-energy X-rays with a high frequency. Among visible light, photons of violet-light have the highest energy while red-light photons have the lowest energy.

Moreover, electromagnetic waves can transfer energy into a system through their electric and magnetic fields that can exert forces and do work on charges within the system. This energy transfer is particularly efficient when the frequency of the electromagnetic wave matches the natural frequencies of the system, as seen with microwaves and water molecules.

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