Question

The brilliant red colour seen in fireworks is due to the emission of red light at a wavelength of 650 nm. What is the energy of one photon of this light? (c = 3 x 108 ms-1 , h = 6.626 x 10-34 Js)

Answer 1

The energy of one photon of red light at a wavelength of 650 nm is 3.05 x 10^-19 joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The energy of a photon, as determined by the equation E = hc/λ, encapsulates the fundamental relationship between energy (E), Planck's constant (h), the speed of light (c), and the wavelength of light (λ). In the context of a red photon with a wavelength of 650 nm, the substitution of values into the formula yields a result of 3.05 x 10-19 joules.

This calculation illustrates the quantized nature of energy in photons, emphasizing the pivotal role of both Planck's constant and the wavelength of light. The precision of this calculation provides a quantitative understanding of the energy associated with a specific wavelength, offering a fundamental insight into the behavior of light in the realm of quantum mechanics.