Activity 4: Finding Energy

Using the formula (E = hv or E= hc/λ) solve the following problems. Show your
solution.
1. What is the energy of a photon of blue light (λ = 450 nm) and of a photon of
red light (λ = 700 nm) in units of eV = 1.6*10-19 J?
Solution:
E = hc/λ.
Blue light: E = (6.626*10-34 Js) (3*108 m/s)/ (450*10-9 m)
= 4.4*10-19 J = 2.76 eV
Red light: E = (6.626*10-34 Js) (3*108 m/s)/ (700*10-9 m)
= 2.8*10-19 J = 1.8 eV
2. A photon of light has a wavelength of 0.050 cm. Calculate its energy. (Ans: E
= 3.98 x 10-22J)

v = c/λ
v = 3.0 x 10⁸/0.00050
v = 6.0 x 10¹¹ Hz
E = hv
E = (6.63 x 10⁻³⁴)(6.0 x 10¹¹ Hz)
E = 3.978 x 10⁻²² J
E = 3.98 x 10⁻²² J
3. Calculate the total energy in 1.5 x 1013 photons of gamma radiation having
λ = 3.0 x 10-12 m. (Ans: 1.0 J)
E=hc/ λ
E = [ 6.626 x 10^(-34) x 3 x 10^8 ] / 3.0 x 10^(-12) = 6.626 x 10-14 J
N = 1.5 x 10^13
E = 1.5 x 10^13 x 6.626 x 10-14 J = 0.9939 J
E= 1.0 J
4. The wavelength of green light from a traffic signal is centered at
5.20 x 10-5 cm. Calculate the frequency. (Ans:  = 5.77 x 1014Hz.)

v = c/λ
v = 3.0 x 10⁸/5.2 x 10⁻⁷
 = 5.77 x 10¹⁴ Hz

5. Calculate the energy and frequency of red light having a wavelength of

6.80 x 10-5 cm. (Ans: E = 2.92 x 10-19 J  = 4.4 x 1014Hz)

v = c/λ
v = 3.0 x 10⁸/6.80 x 10⁻⁶
v = 4.4 x 10¹⁴
E = hv
E = (6.63 x 10⁻³⁴)(4.4 x 10¹²)
E = 2.92 x 10⁻¹⁹ J