Extending Planck’s idea of quantized energy, Einstein calculated that a pho-

ton’s energy depends on its frequency.

Ephoton # h!

Further, Einstein proposed that the energy of a photon of light must have a
certain minimum, or threshold, value to cause the ejection of a photoelectron.
That is, for the photoelectric effect to occur a photon must possess, at a min-
imum, the energy required to free an electron from an atom of the metal.
According to this theory, even small numbers of photons with energy above
the threshold value will cause the photoelectric effect. Although Einstein was
able to explain the photoelectric effect by giving electromagnetic radiation
particlelike properties, it’s important to note that a dual wave-particle model
of light was required.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 5-2

Calculating the Energy of a Photon
Tiny water drops in the air disperse the white light of the sun into a
rainbow. What is the energy of a photon from the violet portion of
the rainbow if it has a frequency of 7.23 ! 1014 s"1?

1. Analyze the Problem

You are given the frequency of a photon of violet light. You also
know that the energy of a photon is related to its frequency by the
equation Ephoton # h!. The value of h, Planck’s constant, is known. By
substituting the known values, the equation can be solved for the
energy of a photon of violet light.
Known Unknown
! # 7.23 ! 1014 s"1 Ephoton # ? J
h # 6.626 ! 10"34 J $ s

2. Solve for the Unknown

Sunlight bathes Earth in white
light—light composed of all of
the visible colors of the electro-
magnetic spectrum.
Substitute the known values for frequency and Planck’s constant into
the equation relating energy of a photon and frequency.
Ephoton # h!
Ephoton # (6.626 ! 10"34 J $ s)(7.23 ! 1014 s"1)
Multiply the known values and cancel units.
Ephoton # (6.626 ! 10"34 J $ s)(7.23 ! 1014 s"1) # 4.79 ! 10"19 J
The energy of one photon of violet light is 4.79 ! 10"19 J.

3. Evaluate the Answer

The answer is correctly expressed in a unit of energy (J). The known
value for frequency has three significant figures, and the answer also
is expressed with three significant figures, as it should be. As
expected, the energy of a single photon of light is extremely small.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
e!
Practic For more practice 5. What is the energy of each of the following types of radiation?
with photon energy
problems, go to a. 6.32 ! 1020 s"1 b. 9.50 ! 1013 Hz c. 1. 05 ! 1016 s"1
Supplemental Practice 6. Use Figure 5-5 to determine the types of radiation described in
Problems in Appendix A. problem 5.

124 Chapter 5 Electrons in Atoms