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How many photons are emitted during 16.38 s of operation of a red laser pointer? The device outputs 4.6 Watts at a 689.12 nm wavelength.

User Loicfavory
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1 Answer

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Total energy = power x time

From the information given,

power = 4.6 watts

time = 16.38 s

Total energy = 4.6 x 16.38 = 75.348 J

The formula for calculating the energy of a photon is expressed as

E = hc/λ

where

h is the plank's constant and its value is 6.63 x 10^- 34 Js

c is the frequency of light and its value is 3 x 10^8 m/s

λ is the wavelength

From the information given,

λ = 689.12 x 10^- 9 m

Thus,

E = (6.63 x 10^- 34 x 3 x 10^8)/689.12 x 10^- 9

E = 28.86 x 10^-20 J

Number of photons = total energy/energy per photon

Number of photons = 75.348/28.86 x 10^-20

Number of photons = 2.61 x 10^20 photons

User Amaal
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