Planck’s Constant Worksheet Name ________________________Date__________________Period________

Max Planck explained that energy was transferred in chunks known as quanta, equal to hν. The variable h is
Planck’s constant equal to 6.6262 × 10-34 J·s and the variable ν represents the frequency in 1/s, s-1, or Hz
(Hertz). This equation allows the calculation of the energy of photons, given their frequency. If the wavelength
is given, the energy can be determined by first using the light equation (c = νλ) to find the frequency, then using
Planck’s equation to calculate energy.
useful equations
Problem-Solving Strategy
Known Unknown c = νλ
Frequency (ν) E = hν Energy (E) c = 3.00 × 108 m/s
E = hν
Wavelength (λ) ν= Frequency (ν) E = hν Energy (E) h = 6.63 × 10-34 J·s
1 nm = 1 × 10-9 m
1 kJ = 1000 J
Energy (E) ν= Frequency (ν) = Wavelength (λ)

Example: Light with a wavelength of 525 nm is green. Calculate the energy in joules for a green light photon.

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- First find the frequency: ν= = =v 5.71 10 s- 1 = 5.71 x 1014 Hz

34 14 19
- Second find the energy E = hν E (6.6262 10 J s)(5.71 10 s-1) = E 3.78 10 J / photon

Use the equations above to answer the following questions.

1. Ultraviolet radiation has a frequency of 6.8 × 1015 Hz. Calculate the energy, in joules, of the photon.
2. Find the energy, in joules per photon, of microwave radiation with a frequency of 7.91 × 1010 Hz.
3. A sodium vapor lamp emits light photons with a wavelength of 5.89 × 10-7 m. What is the energy of these
photons?
4. One of the electron transitions in a hydrogen atom produces infrared light with a wavelength of 746.4 nm.
What amount of energy causes this transition?
5. Find the energy in kJ for an x-ray photon with a frequency of 2.4 × 1018 s-1.
6. A ruby laser produces red light that has a wavelength of 500 nm. Calculate its energy in joules.
7. What is the frequency of UV light that has an energy of 2.39 × 10-18 J?
8. What is the wavelength and frequency of photons with an energy of 1.4 × 10-21 J?
9. What is the energy of a light that has 434 nm?

10. What is the wavelength of a light that has a frequency of 3.42 x 1011 Hz?
 Planck’s Equation Practice Problems
Equations and constants:
E = hn and E = hc/l E = energy of one photon with a frequency of n
c = lf c/l = f c = speed of light = 3.0 x 108 m/s (meters per second)
h = Planck’s constant = 6.63 x 10-34 J-s
l = wavelength in meters
f = frequency in Hz (waves/s or 1/s or s-1)
n = number of photons (energy level)

1. A photon has a frequency (n) of 2.68 x 106 Hz. Calculate its energy.
Ans: E = 1.78 x 10-27 J

2. Calculate the energy (E) and wavelength (l) of a photon of light with a frequency (n)
of 6.165 x 1014 Hz. Ans: E = 4.1 x 10-19 J l = 4.87 x 10-7 m

3. Calculate the frequency and the energy of blue light that has a wavelength of 400 nm
(h = 6.62 x 10-34 J-s). Ans: f = 7.5 x 1014 Hz E = 4.97 x 10-19 J

4. Calculate the wavelength and energy of light that has a frequency of 1.5 x 1015 Hz.
Ans: l = 2.0 x 10-7 m E = 9.95 x 10-19 J

5. A photon of light has a wavelength of 0.050 cm. Calculate its energy.

Ans: E = 3.98 x 10-22 J

6. Calculate the number of photons having a wavelength of 10.0 µm required to produce 1.0 kJ of
energy. Ans: 5.0 x 1022 photons

7. Calculate the total energy in 1.5 x 1013 photons of gamma radiation having l = 3.0 x 10-12 m.
Ans: 1.0 J

8. 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 f = 4.4 x 1014 Hz

9. The wavelength of green light from a traffic signal is centered at 5.20 x 10-5 cm. Calculate the
frequency.
Ans: l = 5.77 x 1014 Hz.

10. Calculate the frequency of light that has a wavelength of 4.25 x 10-9m. Identify the type of
electromagnetic radiation. Ans: f = 7.1 x 1016 Hz. UV radiation

11. The wavelength of a ruby laser is 650 nm. If the power of the laser is 1.5 W, how many photons are
coming out of the laser every second?
Ans: n 18 4.9 ×10 photons