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Multiple Choice
A photon of which of these colors would carry the most energy?
A
Green
B
Yellow
C
Orange
D
Red
E
Blue
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that the energy of a photon is directly related to its frequency and inversely related to its wavelength. The formula to calculate the energy of a photon is given by: , where is the energy, is Planck's constant, and is the frequency.
Recall that the frequency of light is related to its wavelength by the equation: , where is the speed of light and is the wavelength.
Recognize that shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies and therefore higher energy. In the visible spectrum, violet has the shortest wavelength, followed by blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
Compare the colors given in the problem: Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Blue. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than green, yellow, orange, and red, indicating it has a higher frequency and thus more energy.
Conclude that among the given options, a photon of blue light would carry the most energy due to its higher frequency and shorter wavelength compared to the other colors listed.