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Planck’s Quantum Theory

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According to Planck's quantum theory

The radiant energy emitted or absorbed by a body not

continuously but discontinuously in the form of small
discrete packets of energy and these packets are called
quantum.
In case of light, the smallest packet of energy is called as
'photon' but in general case the smallest packet of energy is
called as quantum.

Continuous
wave
Photons
or Quanta
Individual
photon
He gave the name quantum to the smallest quantity of energy that can
be emitted or absorbed in the form of electromagnetic radiations

quantum

light
Quanta (plural)
The energy of each quantum is directly proportional to
frequency of the radiation i.e.

E
 E = h
𝒉𝒄 𝒄
or E= ∵𝝂=
𝝀 𝝀

h is proportionality constant or Planck's constant

h = 6.626 × 10–34 J s
Total amount of energy transmitted from one body to another will
be some integral multiple of energy of a quantum.

E = nh
𝐧𝐡𝐜
=
𝛌
= nhcഥ
𝒗
where n = Positive integer = Number of quanta
 Example

Which has a higher energy ?

(a) A photon of violet light with wave length 4000 Å
(b) A photon of red light with wave length 7000 Å

Solution
 Example

Calculate the energy of a photon of sodium light of wave length

5.862 × 10 –16 m in Joules.

Solution
 Example

Calculate the frequency & energy of a photon of wave length

4000 Å.

Solution
 Example

How many photons of lights having a wave length of 5000 Å are

necessary to provide 1 joule of energy.

Solution
A 1 kw radio transmitter operates at a frequency of 800 Hz.
How many photons per second does it emit ?
The wave number of a wave of light is 2.0 × 1014 cm–1. The
frequency of this light is :
The energy of photon of reddish light having wavelength 660
nm is (h = 6.6 × 10–34 J s)