E = hν
where:
* E is the energy of the photon (EM wave)
* h is Planck's constant (approximately 6.626 x 10⁻³⁴ J·s)
* ν is the frequency of the EM wave
This equation, known as Planck's equation, demonstrates that:
* Higher frequency EM waves have higher energy.
* Lower frequency EM waves have lower energy.
Examples:
* Gamma rays have the highest frequency and energy within the electromagnetic spectrum.
* Radio waves have the lowest frequency and energy.
* Visible light falls somewhere in between, with different colors corresponding to different frequencies and energies (e.g., blue light has a higher frequency and energy than red light).
Therefore, the frequency of an electromagnetic wave is a crucial factor determining its energy.
