Photon Frequency Calculation: Reflecting on the Nature of Light
How can we calculate the frequency of a photon emitting teal light with a wavelength of approximately 490nm?
Final answer: The frequency of a photon emitting teal light with a wavelength of 490 nm can be calculated using the formula c = λν. But how do we actually derive this frequency?
Understanding Photon Frequency Calculation:
To calculate the frequency of a photon emitting teal light with a wavelength of 490 nm, we first need to understand the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and the speed of light. The formula c = λν relates the speed of light (c) to the wavelength (λ) and frequency (ν) of light.
When we consider the speed of light as a constant value of 3.00 x 10^8 m/s, we can use this known value along with the given wavelength of 490 nm to find the frequency of the photon. However, it is important to ensure that the units of speed and wavelength are consistent in our calculation.
By converting the wavelength from nanometers (nm) to meters (m) using the conversion factor of 1 m = 10^9 nm, we find that 490 nm is equivalent to 490 x 10^-9 m. Substituting these values into the formula c = λν, we can rearrange the equation to solve for the frequency (ν).
Plugging in the known values, we get: (3.00 x 10^8 m/s) = (490 x 10^-9 m) * ν. By solving for the frequency (ν), we find that the frequency of the photon emitting teal light with a wavelength of 490 nm is 6.12 x 10^14 Hz.